Seasonal Tax Preparer - Individual Income Tax Specialist 1040

Gerald Reiss CPA | Westfield, NJ

Job Type: Seasonal / Temporary (on site)

Location: Westfield, NJ

Tax Season: January – April 2027

Gerald Reiss CPA is an established accounting and tax preparation firm located in Westfield, New Jersey. We provide tax preparation, tax planning, and accounting services to individuals, families, and businesses. Our firm also works closely with an affiliated wealth management team to provide clients with comprehensive tax and financial planning solutions.

We pride ourselves on delivering accurate, timely, and personalized service while maintaining long-term client relationships.

We are seeking a highly experienced Seasonal Tax Preparer to join our team for the upcoming 2027 tax season.

This position is focused exclusively on individual income tax preparation (Form 1040). We are looking for someone with extensive hands-on experience preparing complex federal and state individual income tax returns who can efficiently manage a high volume of returns with minimal supervision.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of individual income taxation, particularly Schedules C, D, and E, and be comfortable handling returns involving self-employment income, rental properties, investment transactions, capital gains and losses, retirement distributions, and multistate filings.

Our firm uses Lacerte tax preparation software, and candidates with prior Lacerte experience are strongly preferred.

This is not an entry-level position. We need an experienced tax professional who can hit the ground running, work independently, and consistently deliver accurate, high-quality returns in a fast-paced tax season environment.

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• Prepare a high volume of federal and state individual income tax returns (Form 1040).
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• Handle complex individual tax returns involving multiple income sources, deductions, credits, and supporting schedules.
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• Prepare Schedule C for sole proprietorships, including business income and expenses, depreciation, and self-employment taxes.
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• Prepare Schedule D and Form 8949, including stock sales, capital gains and losses, cost-basis adjustments, wash sales, and investment transactions.
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• Prepare Schedule E for rental real estate, including rental income and expenses, depreciation, passive activity limitations, and property dispositions.
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• Accurately report Schedule K-1 income and losses from partnerships, S corporations, and trusts.
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• Prepare returns involving retirement distributions, Social Security income, and other investment-related tax matters.
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• Prepare multistate individual income tax returns, including New Jersey and New York filings when applicable.
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• Review client documentation, identify missing information, and resolve tax-related discrepancies.
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• Independently manage multiple tax returns simultaneously while meeting filing deadlines.
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• Communicate effectively with clients and team members to ensure timely and accurate completion of returns.
  
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• 5+ years of professional individual income tax preparation experience required, preferably in public accounting.
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• Extensive experience preparing complex Form 1040 returns, with a demonstrated ability to independently complete a high volume of returns accurately and efficiently.
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• Strong working knowledge of individual income tax schedules, particularly Schedule C, Schedule D, and Schedule E.
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• Significant experience with investment-related tax reporting, including stock sales, capital gains and losses, cost basis, wash sales, and brokerage statements (Forms 1099-B and 1099-DIV).
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• Extensive experience with rental real estate taxation, depreciation, passive activity rules, and self-employment income.
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• Experience reporting Schedule K-1 income and losses from partnerships, S corporations, and trusts.
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• Strong understanding of federal and New Jersey individual income tax laws, including multistate returns.
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• Ability to identify complex tax issues, reconcile supporting documentation, and prepare accurate returns with minimal supervision.
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• Experience with Intuit Lacerte tax preparation software strongly preferred.
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• Ability to independently prepare and complete complex individual income tax returns using professional tax software with minimal training.
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• CPA or Enrolled Agent (EA) designation preferred, but not required.
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• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet demanding tax-season deadlines.
  
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This is a seasonal position running approximately January through April 2027.

We offer a professional, collaborative, and supportive work environment. Tax season is an all-hands-on-deck period, and candidates should be comfortable working extended hours during peak filing periods.

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• Full-time seasonal schedule
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• Ability to work 50–60+ hours per week during peak tax season
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• Fast-paced, team-oriented environment
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• Potential opportunity to return for future tax seasons
  
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Competitive hourly compensation based on experience, technical proficiency, and ability to independently prepare complex individual income tax returns.

If you're an experienced tax preparer who knows Form 1040 inside and out, has extensive experience with Schedules C, D, and E, and can efficiently handle a substantial volume of returns, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for a dependable, knowledgeable tax professional who can contribute immediately and help our team deliver accurate, high-quality tax returns throughout the busy season.