U.S. Tax Preparer, Small Business Returns

Job Mobz

U.S. Tax Preparer responsible for preparing and reviewing tax returns for small business clients.

Posted 5/20/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Prepare federal and applicable state returns for small business customers, including 1040, Schedule C, 1120, 1120-S, and 1065 returns.
Review customer documents, bookkeeping records, year-end financials, prior-year returns, and supporting schedules before preparing the return.
Identify missing information, inconsistencies, unsupported balances, or bookkeeping issues before the return reaches review.
Identify bookkeeping issues that affect tax return accuracy, make straightforward supported adjustments when appropriate, and document or escalate anything that must be corrected before filing.
Communicate directly with customers when information is needed and conduct draft review calls explaining the return, balance due/refund, approval requirements, and next steps in plain language.
Prepare or support returns involving R&D credits / Form 6765 where applicable, and identify missing documentation or items requiring specialist/advisor review.
Provide concise status updates, respond promptly to internal and customer-facing messages, and proactively flag blockers or deadline risks.
Document workpapers, assumptions, adjustments, open questions, customer conversations, and next steps clearly.
Resolve routine tax preparation questions independently using tax knowledge, research, and internal resources; escalate only when genuinely advisory, legally sensitive, complex, or outside scope.
Correct prep-related errors or omissions promptly when returned by reviewer feedback.
With Power of Attorney, communicate with IRS agents in writing and on calls on behalf of the customer.
Understand IRS notices and explain next steps to customers; offering first time abatement letters when appropriate.
Prepare and file amendments.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Valid IRS PTIN.
Demonstrated U.S. tax preparation experience, including small business returns.
Experience with at least some of the following: 1040, Schedule C, 1120-S, 1065, and 1120.
Ability to review financial statements, year-end financials, bookkeeping records, general ledgers, income/expense reports, and supporting documentation.
Ability to recognize when bookkeeping issues or adjustments affect tax return accuracy.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort speaking directly with customers by phone or video.
Ability to explain tax concepts clearly, calmly, and empathetically to non-tax professionals.
Strong computer skills and ability to work efficiently across multiple systems in a remote environment.
Independent ownership, responsiveness, follow-through, and sound judgment within documented workflows.
Willingness to complete BenchTax’s written technical assessment and customer-communication assessment.
Big 4 Experience: Ernst Young, KPMG, Deloitte, & PWC.
Experience with R&D credits and Form 6765, including qualified research expenses, payroll tax credit considerations, and substantiation requirements.
Experience preparing returns for startups, software companies, engineering firms, product-development businesses, or other R&D-heavy clients.
Experience conducting draft review calls and making or proposing adjusting journal entries.
Experience with Drake Tax or similar professional tax software.
Experience in remote tax, accounting, bookkeeping, or client-service environments using tools such as Slack, Google Workspace, Salesforce, customer portals, or workflow trackers.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Must meet Bench’s minimum hardware and internet requirements for smooth communication and workflow
Ownership and follow-through: acknowledges assignments, provides status updates, documents blockers, follows through on commitments, and escalates before deadlines or customer experience are at risk.
Quality and metrics: comfortable being measured on accuracy, avoidable rework, response time, turnaround time, SLA adherence, workpaper/note quality, customer impact, and ability to move work forward without unnecessary escalation.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

U.S. tax preparation1040Schedule C11201120-S1065R&D creditsForm 6765bookkeepingfinancial statement review

Soft Skills

strong written communicationstrong verbal communicationcustomer interactionexplanation of tax conceptsindependent ownershipresponsivenessfollow-throughsound judgmentempathyproblem-solving

Certifications

IRS PTIN