Tax Preparer

Effective: Fall 2021
Certificate of Achievement Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description

The Tax Preparer certificate will give you the specific knowledge to launch a career as a tax preparer. You will prepare federal and state taxes and submit them on behalf of your clients, such as individuals and businesses. In addition to taxes, you will learn basic accounting knowledge to understand the basic financial statements of a small business. After completing this certificate, you will have the tools and knowledge to work as a tax preparer or to achieve entrepreneurial aspirations of starting a tax and accounting practice.

This is the only program of its type in the entire East Bay. The program is fast and flexible:

  • consists of 7 classes, or 19 units
  • can be easily finished in 2 semesters
  • can be fully completed online
  • can be started in any semester.

What can I do with this major?

This certificate prepares you to start your own tax preparation business or to work as a specialized tax preparer in public accounting and enrolled agents firms. There is an annual shortage of 480 tax preparers in the Bay Area. These jobs grow 10% every year with 484 new job openings. The average hourly wage is $30.56.


Learning and Career Pathway
  • Business, Economics & Information Technology

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

11 units

BUS 7
Accounting for Small Business

3 units
Bookkeeping practices and accounting cycle for a service and merchandising sole proprietorship. Double-accounting entry system (debits and credits), journal, ledgers, adjusting and closing entries, income statement, balance sheet, and statement of owner’s equity, cash, banking activities, payroll, merchandising transactions.
Course Details:

BUS 3A
Taxation of Individuals

3 units
Preparation of Federal and California income tax returns for individuals through the absorption and application of income tax law, theory, practice. Completion of various tax forms, including Form 1040 (Individual), Schedules A (Itemized Deductions), B (Interest and Dividends), C (Profit or Loss from a Business), and D (Capital Gains and Losses). Other topics include depreciation, tax credits, tax planning, and tax research.
Course Details:

BUS 8
Payroll Accounting

3 units
The laws, principles and procedures of payroll accounting in both manual and computerized environments. Concepts covered include preparation of payroll records and reports; payroll law and practices; computation of taxes, including Social Security, federal income tax, state income taxes, and unemployment taxes and voluntary withholdings.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: BUS 1A
    2. or
  2. Strongly Recommended: BUS 7

BUS 93
QuickBooks

2 units
QuickBooks introduces the concepts of bookkeeping/accounting using the theory of double-entry bookkeeping. Learn to use the QuickBooks software for a set up, service business and merchandising business. Setting up chart of accounts, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory, payroll and preparation and analysis of financial statements.
Course Details:

Semester 2

8 units

BUS 3B
Taxation of Business Entities

3 units
A study of current Federal income tax law as it relates to sole proprietorships, corporations (C corps, S corps), and partnerships (General and Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, and Limited Liability Partnerships. California tax law differences will be highlighted. A student does NOT need to complete BUS-3A to enroll in this class.
Course Details:
  1. Prerequisite: BUS 7
    2. or
  2. Prerequisite: BUS 1A

BUS 92
Excel Spreadsheets for Accounting

2 units
Fundamentals of using electronic spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel) for accounting principles. Focus on solving accounting problems and completing accounting projects with Microsoft Excel.
Course Details:
  1. Prerequisite: BUS 1A
    2. or
  2. Prerequisite: BUS 7
  3. Strongly Recommended: CAS 54

BUS 6
Accounting Ethics

3 units
A comprehensive study of ethical issues that accountants must address in the various sectors of accounting. Topics include general principles of ethics applied to accounting, personal responsibilities, the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, tax/audit/accounting issues, confidentiality, independence, conflicts of interest, discreditable acts, whistleblower duties, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: BUS 1A
    2. or
  2. Strongly Recommended: BUS 7
Terms Offered: Spring
Total Units: 19 units
This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.