At Intuit Academy, we offer a free pathway for people interested in a career as a financial services professional to learn about federal tax returns and become eligible to apply to an entry-level Tax Specialist role. This pathway requires no prior professional experience in tax preparation. The only requirement to apply without having prior experience is to complete our Tax Level 1 and Tax Preparation programs, both of which are completely free and self-paced on Intuit Academy. Below we will go over everything you need to know about applying to the Tax Specialist role.
About the Tax Specialist Role
The Tax Specialist is a remote, entry-level seasonal role at Intuit in the field of tax preparation. While it requires a basic understanding of federal tax preparation by taking the two aforementioned Intuit Academy tax programs, it is also very much a customer-oriented role that requires the ability to communicate effectively in English (Spanish is a plus!) and handle virtual interactions with people across all 50 U.S. states.
The position is fully remote within the US., and allows you to be flexible in the times and number of hours that you work. Every shift requires a minimum of 4 hours, and you would work 20-40 hours per week between 5AM-9 PM PT. During peak season (March and April), you may be asked to work more than 20 hours a week to meet customer needs.
As a W-2 employee, the job comes with several perks, including paid sick leave, 401(k) plan with contribution match, employee stock purchase plan, E&O insurance, complimentary TurboTax software and product discounts, and partial internet reimbursement (as hardwired internet connection is a requirement for the job). Once you’re hired, you’ll receive all the equipment you need — including a laptop and headset — and plenty of paid on-the-job training to set you up for success.
What’s Required
Previously, we required 2+ years and 30+ paid returns filed per tax season to be hired at TurboTax Live. Now, earning your Tax Preparation badge waives that requirement entirely, and allows you to connect with a recruiter and initiate the interview process for a Tax Specialist role upon completion. You must first complete Tax Level 1 in order to enroll in the Tax Preparation program.
Resources to Get You Through Tax Level 1 and Tax Preparation
We recently launched exam resource guides for both Tax Level 1 and Tax Preparation programs, which are meant to guide you through the exam for each course. Both exams are open book, so you’re allowed to reference any materials you may need. You can also join our Facebook Tax Learner Community to seek help on the course content from other learners making their way through the same programs.
Earning Your Tax Level 1 Badge (8 hour commitment)
Tax Level 1 consists of course modules with small quizzes along the way to reinforce your understanding of the content, as well as a practice exam and the final exam. You have 2 attempts to complete the exam, but if you don’t pass after the second attempt, you’ll have to wait 15 days before trying again. The pass rate for the exam is graded on a curve, so you can pass with a less-than-perfect score. Passing this exam unlocks your ability to enroll in the Tax Preparation program.
Please note: If you’ve indicated that you have 2+ years of recent tax filing experience, with 30+ returns per season, you may be prompted to connect with a recruiter after completing Tax Level 1. However, if you don’t have that experience, please continue on to enroll in Tax Preparation and do not connect with a recruiter at this stage.
Earning Your Tax Preparation Badge (15 hour commitment)
Once you have basic knowledge about federal tax returns, the Tax Preparation program consists of completing 13 practice tax returns that require an 80% or higher to proceed to the next one. You have 10 attempts at each of these practice returns—but you shouldn’t need to max them out, since you’ll be able to review and correct any wrong answers before submitting each practice return.
The final exam consists of 1 practice return, requiring a score of 80% or higher. Once you’ve passed the Tax Preparation exam, you will not only receive a new badge, but you will also see an opportunity to initiate your application process. All you need to do is fill out a form with basic job eligibility questions, which will appear immediately after passing the exam.
Hiring Screening
Within 0-3 business days after submitting the form, you should receive a call or email that invites you to an initial screening to make sure you’re eligible to work at TurboTax Live. This process should be quick and basic, and will typically take up to 15-20 minutes. You’ll have the option to schedule time to speak with a recruiter over the phone, or to use the self-service option online. The choice is yours to make, and neither one is treated preferentially.
What to Expect During Your Video Interview
If you pass the initial screening process, you’ll soon receive an email invitation to create an account on the platform that helps us conduct virtual interviews. The platform will include an introductory video, description of the role you’re applying to, and a practice question — which we highly encourage you to try out before you begin.
The recorded video interview will include questions to which you will provide timed answers by looking into your computer camera (please do not use a tablet or phone to conduct the interview). You’re welcome to access any tax-related resources you may have, and use them to prepare and answer your questions—but you cannot use any AI assistance.
Once you initiate the video interview, you will not be able to pause and return to it later, so please make sure you are ready before you begin. The prompts will be a mix of behavioral and tax-related questions.
As an entry-level applicant, you will not be expected to know the answers to every tax-related question. Don’t freeze up, and do the best you can; if you’re unable to provide an immediate answer, explain the steps you might take to find the answer.
After your video interview is submitted, it may take up to 2 weeks to hear back. A recruiter will review your recorded video and either send you an email if your application is declined, or a phone call if your application is accepted.
Tips for Acing the Video Interview
When you’re interviewing to be a Tax Specialist, it’s important to remember that this is a customer-facing position where you will be interfacing with people from all 50 states over video or chat. This means that your ability to communicate and provide high quality customer service is a necessity, and your interview evaluation will reflect this requirement.
To set yourself up for success, make sure you dress appropriately and are located in a quiet space without distractions. Set aside up to 85 minutes to complete the interview in one sitting, as you won’t be able to pause and return to it. Most importantly, make sure that you have a strong internet connection.
Other than that, showcase your people skills by navigating through questions with thoughtfulness and confidence, the way you imagine you would interact with a TurboTax live customer — and show your recruiter that you’re ready for the job!
Our hiring deadline for Tax Specialists is in early November, so please keep that in mind as you plan your courses. Please also note that if you are located in California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New York and Oregon, your state has additional requirements in order for you to perform duties in this role — and we recommend that you look into what those are ahead of time. Those requirements, if applicable, will need to be met once you are offered a position.
Best of luck to you in your application process!
Get started at Intuit Academy
If you already have professional tax preparation experience that qualifies you to apply for a more advanced role, we have plenty of other job opportunities for you! View our other Intuit TurboTax Live and QuickBooks Live remote roles.