• Public Accounting: These general accountants may help businesses or individual clients prepare their tax papers. They also offer clients advice as to which tax breaks or disadvantages may apply to them.
• Management Accounting: These accountants are employed by particular companies and organizations, to keep track of their financial records. They structure the company's spending and financial decisions, budget for the future, and prepare documents for taxation purposes.
• Government Accounting and Auditing: Government accountants audit the financial transactions of companies and individuals, to ensure that they are legal and adherent to the U.S. tax code. They are employed at the federal, state, and local level.

• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree: 2-3 years to complete

Most tax accountants need at least a bachelor's degree to find employment in a staff-level position. Four-year programs in accounting are usually business-oriented, and prepare graduates with a broad knowledge of different accounting practices. A master's program in accounting is appropriate for individuals with a bachelor's degree in another field, or for accountants who would like to increase their tax knowledge. These degrees may be required for top accountant positions in large or prestigious firms. 

There are mandatory licensing requirements for accountants who file papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These accountants must have the state-issued Certified Public Accountant license. Although the CPA license is usually only required for accountants in large firms filing with the SEC, many accountants choose to earn this license anyway, to demonstrate their abilities.

In order to become a CPA, most states require that applicants have 150 hours of college credit and a passing score on the Uniform CPA Examination, offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This four-part test is notoriously difficult, and only half of test-takers pass all parts on their first attempt. After earning the CPA license, accountants must complete a certain number of continuing education credits, in order to maintain their license. (BLS)

While not required, tax accountants can seek out voluntary credentials as well, in order to showcase their skills in a particular accounting specialty. The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation offers several certifications that may be pertinent to tax accountants, including the Accredited Tax Advisor and the Accredited Tax Preparer credentials.

• Auditing: Understand the links between tax accountability and technology. Error analysis, contributed capital, and earnings per share are watchwords here.
• Corporate Income Tax: Learn the particular taxation procedures for large business here. C and S corporations will dominate in this course, alongside accumulations and Schedule M-1.
• Deductions and Itemizations: This class teaches legal opportunities to reduce taxes. Medical expensive and losses via theft are included here.
• Capital Gains and Losses: This class shows you how the government categorizes a company's highs and lows. Depreciation recapture and involuntary conversions are some of the vocab you'll hear.
• Self-Employment vs. Employee Status: Learn how these two types of tax filers are different legally. Schedule C is the big lesson here.

This really will depend on the type of degree you will pursue in this discipline. Though bachelor's students may not have to physically appear during their four years, master's and MBA candidates may be expected to participate in on-site workshops, symposiums, and capstone projects. 

• Accounting: If you are considering a degree in tax accounting, you might also be interested in accounting as a general discipline overall. Only a bachelor's degree is essential to get you started in a winning accounting career.
• International Business: Budding tax accountants may demonstrate interest in the global economy and financial markets. This degree provides you with the opportunity to do just this; learn a language too, and you could get hired abroad.
• Risk Management: As tax accounting grooms you to manage a company's financial reports, risk management prepares you to keep the same company in the financial clear. Hedging techniques are the primary tool of risk managers to bring about financial security.
• Small Business Management: This field is intrinsically tied into tax accounting; small businesses can only sustain themselves with an expert in taxation for support. Handling merchandise, managing staff, and -- yes -- dealing with taxes are some of the skills you can learn here. 
• Human Resources: This degree trains students to become professionals who recruit, train, and provide compensation to employees in a company.