by our College Data Analytics TeamTaxes aren't everyone's favorite topic, but if you have a knack for numbers and want to help your clients prepare taxes, a degree in taxation may be a good fit for you. Tax preparers work with both residential and commercial customers to prepare their taxes. You will need to work closely with your clients by interviewing them, record data into tax preparation software and look for ways to minimize the amount of taxes your clients owe.
A thorough knowledge of taxes and tax law will be necessary to be successful in this role. Tax preparers are closely related to other financial related careers such as tax examiners and accountants. While accountants are responsible for paying corporate taxes for their organization (in addition to numerous other responsibilities), they are typically not solely responsible for determining the taxes to pay - especially in larger organizations. Another related career is tax examiners - these people typically work for the government either at the state or federal level. Tax examiners examine tax returns for individuals and businesses to determine if audits are necessary.
You can become a tax preparer by obtaining a certificate in tax preparation or pursue an associates or bachelor's degree. You have some options depending on who your clients will be and what you want your role to be. The relative simplicity of preparing personal taxes may only require you to attend a vocational school. On the other hand, preparing taxes for a large multinational corporation may require a more advanced degree. Some students go on to get an advanced degree in Taxation so they can work for large companies handling much more complex scenarios.
Studying Taxation involves the study of Taxation. Read on to learn the important information every taxation major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering taxation programs.
In the U.S., taxation is a widely-pursued major, with 1,238 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Taxation Schools ranking analyzes these 90 schools to determine the best overall colleges for taxation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of taxation programs later in this article.
Programs in Taxation build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations taxation graduates commonly enter.
At a minimum, schools will prepare you for tax preparation by including courses on tax law, regulations, electronic tax systems, and tax planning. If you plan to prepare taxes for large organizations, additional coursework in depreciation, capital gains and losses and estates and trusts will be needed.
In order to be a successful tax preparer, you will need to enjoy working with people as communication skills are critical. You must be an active listener to ensure mistakes are not made. You also need to have a strong attention to detail and a knack for numbers.
The skill set emphasized by a taxation program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a taxation major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several taxation degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 23 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 28 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,161 |
People currently working in careers related to taxation tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 18.6% |
| Some college courses | 12.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.4% |
| Master’s degree | 5.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.7% |
| First professional degree | 4.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in taxation careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Tax preparation is a necessary service for consumers and commercial entities.
Majoring in taxation opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to taxation.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to taxation.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | 554,994 | -0.7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 388,087 | 3.0% |
| Tax Preparers | 206,607 | 9.5% |
| Financial Examiners | 136,492 | 13.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of taxation graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $85,524 |
| 4 years | $102,053 |
| 5 years | $117,987 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for taxation graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers taxation grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | $118,242 |
| Financial Examiners | $117,139 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,222 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $77,212 |
| Tax Preparers | $67,542 |
With 90 different taxation programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased taxation school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in taxation, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Taxation | 1,238 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 402,942 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 81,835 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 62,236 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 57,976 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 57,564 |
| Marketing | 53,750 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 25,424 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 16,153 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 14,306 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,333 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
