U.S. Tax Preparer, Small Business Returns

The U.S. Tax Preparer prepares accurate, complete, and timely U.S. tax returns for BenchTax small business customers. The ideal candidate can review books, year-end financials, prior-year returns, and supporting documents; identify missing or inconsistent information; make or flag straightforward supported bookkeeping/tax adjustments; prepare returns in professional tax software; communicate directly with customers; and conduct draft review calls.

This person must be able to explain tax concepts clearly and empathetically to non-tax professionals and document the file so reviewers and advisors can understand the work without recreating it.

Core Responsibilities

• 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.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA or Enrolled Agent designation.

• 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.

• Must be based in the Johannesburg area and available to work North American business hours (8 AM – 4 PM EST or PST)
• Must meet Bench’s minimum hardware and internet requirements for smooth communication and workflow

BenchTax is building an in-house U.S. tax preparation and review function focused on quality, turnaround time, customer experience, accountability, and cost control.

We are hiring experienced U.S. tax professionals to support small business customers across common filing types, including 1040, Schedule C, 1120, 1120-S, and 1065 returns.

These are not data-entry roles. We need tax professionals who can prepare or review returns accurately, identify when bookkeeping issues affect tax accuracy, communicate directly with customers, explain tax concepts in plain language, document work clearly, and move files forward without constant follow-up.

Candidates must have a valid IRS PTIN. CPA or Enrolled Agent designation is preferred. Experience with R&D credits and Form 6765 is strongly preferred.