TaxProTalk.com

I'm a CPA and an instructor for accounting but teaching is much more part time than colleges would want you to know.

I am hoping to learn more about doing tax returns and tax planning for individuals and small businesses. In a perfect world, I would get a job somewhere and learn- but my employer does not approve outside employment, the loophole is it does allow outside self-employment. So, I'd really like to be able to build a small tax business for myself, if I'm able to get competent at it.

Are there any training programs(live or virtual) that you recommend? Books? CPE trainings that are particularly good? I've seen some EA bootcamps and other programs/trainings but I'm hoping there are some recommendations here.
Appreciate any ideas.

Working in “hire ed” , as an accounting instructor, is indeed not a huge time commitment from what I’ve seen.

If you want to learn more about individual taxation, it’s an uphill battle without working at the same time. I’d suggest connecting with a small business accountantant / tax preparer in your area and seeing if you could work for them as an independent contractor; they could have you work independently on accounting / bookkeeping work in connection with tax return prep. That should naturally lead into tax return preparation as well for small business / owner tax returns. (Being an independent contractor means you’re self-employed.)

You won’t be able to focus strictly on individual taxation unless you want to prepare simple 1040s only; you will also need a working knowledge of corporations / partnerships / s corporations / trusts of you want to prepare more complex individual tax returns for business owners.

In terms of courses - believe it or not, see if you can sign up for an HR Block or Jackson Hewitt (or similar) tax season course and work with them through a tax season; their courses are actually pretty good (but that would make you a w-2 employee for a period of time).

I wouldn’t view this as a huge money maker right now, but you indicated you’re looking to learn , meaning you’re willing to forego earning more $ for the sake of learning. I think that will provide opportunity for you to find something.

As you're a CPA, these may be worth a look: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=19927&p=171970&hilit=aicpa+cpe#p171970

I was with the same line of thinking as HenryDavid.
I am sure some tax prep would gladly take you on as a 1099 for tax season.
The rates probably wouldn't be great, but the trade off would be the real world experience/education.
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My state society (and also state society of EA's) offers some pretty decent tax information courses.
You could also try to get into the H&R Block training program.
It's probably not out of this world, but would presumably not cost you anything, or very little.

Your profile says no tax experience. That tells me that you need practical experience in preparing returns and then build on that with deeper knowledge. An EA bootcamp should not be geared towards teaching you how to prepare a return.

In the good old days, doing H&R Block might have been a good idea, but I think they really want you as an employee for a season if you sign up. It's been sixteen years since I worked for Block, so I am not sure what their current attitude is. Once you have some good practical experience under your belt, studying for the EA exam would be a good step. You do not need to actually take the exam, as the CPA designation opens pretty much the same doors. I used Gleim to pass the EA exam and heartily recommend it. I combined it with an in-person class run by NC Society of Enrolled Agents.

Aren't there disclosure requirements for FATPs who use 1099 labor to prepare returns? If you can find a good firm that will come up with a workable arrangement, I think you would get a lot of value out of that. The problem is that, at this time of year, the good firms have hired their staff for the season.