• A tax accountant's duties are demanding but rewarding.tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
  
  A tax accountant helps a business abide by fiscal regulations by preparing and filing federal, state and local income tax returns. This expert usually has a four-year college degree in tax, accounting or finance, and may have a postgraduate degree--a master's or a doctorate--if duties relate to a senior position. A tax accountant also could be a certified public accountant, advising clients on tax-saving strategies.
  
  

Education

• A business usually requires a tax accountant to have a four-year college degree in accounting, tax, finance or fiscal law, with at least 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing. An accountant holding a graduate degree has more opportunities in the job market.
  
  

Required Skills

• An accountant working in a business entity's tax department or for a public firm possesses skills in two primary fields: accounting and tax law. Accounting skills include knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, financial reporting mechanisms and differences between GAAP reporting and tax reporting. GAAP requires financial statements of a corporation to be fair--that is, accurate and objective--and complete. Complete financial statements exhibit four sets of data: a statement of financial position (or balance sheet), a statement of profit and loss (or income statement), a statement of cash flows and a statement of owners' equity. Tax skills include knowledge of federal, state and local regulations and how they apply to a variety of businesses, such as limited liability companies, S or C corporations, and partnerships. A tax accountant also must be expert in corporate finance analysis, mathematics and computer software.
  
  

Professional Certification

• A tax accountant who wants to be promoted to a senior role could seek a CPA license. Licensing requires passing a four-part, comprehensive examination in accounting, tax, business regulations and auditing. Licensing also mandates a candidate to have at least two years' experience in audit, tax or accounting under the supervision of a CPA, a senior accountant or an accounting manager. An accountant who holds a CPA license is usually an expert in accounting, audit or tax. A CPA could work in a business entity's tax department or for a public accounting or business advisory firm. A CPA could be a financial adviser recommending tax-saving strategies for a high-net-worth individual.
  
  

Continuing Professional Education

• A tax accountant or a CPA is required to take continuing professional education courses in tax laws and professional regulations every year to stay informed about changes.