Mary Lara was tired of paying tax preparers who didn’t know what they were doing, so five years ago she left a physically demanding job in a flower warehouse to learn how to prepare taxes herself.
Lara, 43, took a training program through Jackson Hewitt and rose through the ranks. Today, she supervises two stores in Denver and trains other tax preparers. Lara, who works year-round, expects to make $20,000 this year, above the industry average of $16,744.
Tax preparation packs a lot of work into a few weeks. That’s one reason it isn’t as lucrative as accounting or other career fields: Many tax preparers are either retired or do the work as a second job.
There’s a rush in February and March as early filers get their returns done, and one in the first half of April as late filers scramble to meet the April 15 deadline.
“Sometimes, it does get stressful,” Lara said. “You try hard to calm yourself and take control.”
Do a good job of helping people with their taxes, Lara said, and you get a customer, and maybe even a friend, for life.
