Hey everyone, I know this might seem like a random question, but I really need to ask. I’ve been working in taxes for about 2 years since graduating, and I recently became a CPA. While I feel pretty good about preparing tax returns, I’m starting to think about what’s next—like getting promoted, reviewing returns, and handling bigger responsibilities.
Honestly, it feels overwhelming. There are so many rules, forms I haven’t seen yet, tax credits, and calculations done by the software that I wouldn’t know how to do on my own. Then there’s stuff like partnership basis, S corp basis, SALT nuances, C corp provisions—it’s endless. I’m at a smaller firm where we don’t really specialize yet.
So, how does anyone figure all this out? Can I learn it all on the job, or do I need to spend time at home studying too? Is CPE enough for growth? Would getting a Master’s in Tax be worth it? I’d love to hear how you’ve all handled this. Thanks in advance.
The more you learn about taxes, the more you realize how much you don’t know. I worked in taxes for 30 years, including research and preparation, and I never felt like I knew everything.
There’s a big difference between technical knowledge and practical experience. In school, they give you clear facts to work with. In real life, you’ll have clients like a 90-year-old widow handing you a 1099-B for stock her husband gave her 30 years ago. You ask her about the basis, and she just shrugs and smiles. Filing the form is easy, but getting the right information is hard.
If you can, work in a really busy office. I know people who prepare hundreds of returns a year. You’ll learn a lot faster by doing it over and over again. In my experience, practical experience teaches you much more than any class can.
@Denny
Thanks for sharing. My office is really busy, and I’ve been preparing returns for 2 years. Do you think it’s worth spending time at home watching videos or doing self-study? I’m worried I won’t learn everything just from work.
@Mai
It’s less about memorizing tax law and more about knowing how to look things up. Over time, you’ll naturally remember the rules you use often. I worked in expat taxes for a long time, so I know that area well, but I’d need to research if a corporate tax issue came up. The key is learning how to find answers.
@Mai
You’ll never know everything, and that’s okay. The best learning happens on the job, surrounded by experienced coworkers who can guide you in real-time.
Honestly, just being active on this forum has helped me learn so much—way more than school ever did. I try to help with questions I feel I understand, and when I’m wrong, experienced users here usually correct me and explain things. It’s a great way to learn.
Whenever I don’t know something, I do some research. Just being curious and Googling things has taught me a ton.
At my firm, even the partners rely on each other for advice. You don’t need to memorize all the rules—just know they exist and where to find them when needed. I mostly work on real estate, and while I don’t remember every single rule, I know how to look them up.
This. I started as a tax preparer 26 years ago and was lucky to work in a busy office with experienced colleagues. I learned so much there and eventually started my own practice.
You’ll never know everything about taxes, but good research skills and resources will take you far. You’ve got this.
You’ll never know it all, and that’s okay. Just keep doing more returns and don’t be afraid to ask questions or look things up. Share your findings with coworkers—it helps everyone learn together.
Axel said:
You’ll never know it all, and that’s okay. Just keep doing more returns and don’t be afraid to ask questions or look things up. Share your findings with coworkers—it helps everyone learn together.
Yeah, it seems like research is going to be a bigger part of my job from now on.
@Mai
Exactly. I’ve been in a completely different field (programming), but it’s the same thing—knowing how to find answers is more important than memorizing everything.
It took me about 5 years to feel confident about what I already knew, and 10 years to feel like I could handle things I didn’t know. Tax law is huge, but you’ll pick it up over time.
I did a master’s in tax, which helped me personally, but it’s not necessary. Just keep at it.
No one knows everything. Just try to understand why you’re doing something instead of just copying what was done before. Learn from your mistakes and ask for help when needed.
Fin said:
No one knows everything. Just try to understand why you’re doing something instead of just copying what was done before. Learn from your mistakes and ask for help when needed.
Yeah, I think I messed up early in my career by just copying previous returns without really understanding them. I’ve started paying more attention now.