Customer Reviews

Getting Started in Tax Consulting

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Getting Started In Tax Consulting is an important book that every tax professional and aspiring tax professional needs to read-and reread. In fact, it is the only book of its kind that I have found. It doesn't matter if you want to participate in this industry as a CPA, attorney, or an enrolled practitioner-this book will help you reach your goals. The front flap claims the book provides "comprehensive coverage"-and I must say it really does. Since I purchased this book over one year ago, I have read it over one dozen times and I literally learn something new and useful every time. It is packed with advice and wisdom from the author's experiences which I believe would be beneficial to anyone involved in the professional services industry (not just tax consulting).

The author, Gary Carter, strikes me as a really smart yet down-to-earth guy who is clearly a leader in his chosen field. It seems Gary really took some considerable risk when he wrote this book because he discloses an extensive amount of information. I was surprised when he went into so much detail about his own "side" tax business and his personal business philosophies. Gary presents some really tough questions about the industry and those he interviews. And I mean he asks all the right questions-the important kinds of questions you and I really want to know. Best of all, Gary delivers thorough, candid, unbiased, and honest answers. Have you ever wondered any of the following?

What is it like being a tax consultant? What exactly do they do?
How will potential tax reform impact the industry and the livelihood of future tax professionals?
What are some of the pros and cons of developing competencies in tax as opposed to audit?
How much money can I make as a tax consultant?
What is the current and projected demand for tax consultants?
How can I participate (part-time, full-time, employed, self-employed, CPA, MBT, Attorney, etc.)? What education and experience do I need?
Can I build my own practice? How do I do this? What should I expect?
Which specialties within tax are hot right now?
What qualities do I need to be successful?
What are important trends in the tax industry? What factors are driving these trends?

Getting Started In Tax Consulting addresses these questions and much more. Gary goes into detail about things like the importance of developing a niche in the market and how to go about building your own tax practice. He provides examples and explanations that make a lot of sense. I especially like the last chapter, "Conversations with Six Tax Professionals." It provides a sort of Q&A with successful tax consultants from varied backgrounds and different specialties. If you can't relate to the author himself, you will certainly identify with the experiences of one of the folks in the last chapter.

I have never written a review for anything before, but I really think this is an important book-especially considering the current state of the economy. If nothing is certain but death and taxes, certainly many can provide a decent livelihood for themselves and their loved ones through tax consulting. After learning more about the field, I realized tax consulting represents an opportunity to deliver tremendous value to clients-savings that are often measurable and really appreciated. This book will show you how to do that and guide you every step of the way. I would recommend this book to everyone involved in tax consulting or even thinking about getting involved in accounting as a profession. If you know anyone in college, get them this book for Christmas. They might really thank you one day for opening their eyes to a gratifying career they might not otherwise learn about!

The best parts of this book are the chapters which discuss: the importance of having a niche in the tax industry, tax research, having a web-based tax service, tax education, roles of tax consultants( unenrolled tax practitioner, CPA, enrolled agent, and tax attorney), the IRS, and interviews with tax professionals. This book is very resourceful as far as supplying names and addresses of tax associations, tax software vendors, tax research sources, tax-related web sites, and CPA review courses.

I don't think the book was helpful when the author included a chapter on the types of business organziations (sole proprietorship, corportation, partnership, etc.)and 20 pages on tax history and tax reform. I think the author should have given more information as to how much the different types of tax consultants earned on average nationwide. I also wish the author would have rated and given a little bit more thorough information about the different tax associations, tax software vendors, tax web sites and CPA review courses. This would have made the book more resourceful.

However this book enlightens one who's interested in entering the tax consulting industry.

I am starting a tax practice and this book was outstanding. The author gives much useful information with phone numbers and/or web sites. Saved me many hours of searching for the contact information. I hate it when a book advises you to do something then makes you look for the info.

The author covers all aspects of the tax business along with lots of info for setting up any small business. Goes over lots of details that I did not think of. .... I would have liked more case study examples also. But these comments aside, this book is a must-have if you are starting this type of business.

This is a very well written book that examines the topic of tax consulting from several interesting angles. Interviews with accomplished practitioners give the reader valuable insights into this profession. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the field of taxation.

I highly recommend reading this book if you are seeking information in tax consulting. I found the book to be well written, and researched. My intention is to start my own tax practice next year, and this book serves as an excellent body of information in how to get started in the tax business. The author effectively conveys his thoughts and suggestions without loosing readers. This could very well be the bible of, "The How Too Tax Consulting Reference Book." A must read for Tax Maverick's in the making.

I can not put this book down! It has all the information that I wanted to know for a long time: what's it like being a tax professional, what qualities is needed to be successful, how much you can earn. It's an inspirational book that Dr. Carter shares his own way of forming a side practice from concept to bring it to realization step by step. His HONEST assessment are extremely valuable.

Carter has addressed, in a humorous way, questions such as the likelihood of a tax simplification reform driving tax professional out of jobs in the future. He shows you the benefit and the potential of specialization vs. generalization. He has straightened out common confusions on the tax treatment of different tax entities. Then he shows you how and where to find the tax literature-the tool of trade. "Getting to know the IRS" and Web-based tax practice shows you very useful information. All in all, it has just about any major questions you wanted to know as far as the tax professional career. And it was written in a way that shows, from page to page, a passionate educator (Dr. Carter is a professor) sharing his wisdom, research, and knowledge.

Before I finished reading this book, I went on to Dr. Carter's website...and I was very impressed with the credentials of Dr. Carter, a highly accomplished individual. Then I emailed him a question and sure enough he followed up the question and clarify that question for me!

Highly recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating a career as a tax professional. Thank you Dr. Carter for your inspiring, fun, and honest advice from this book!...

The book is loaded with information for a person aspiring to become a tax consultant or a tax preparer. The author touches a lot of different aspects of the tax profession. It has helped me to decide to become a tax professional.

I think this was a very helpful book to assist in making the decision on whether to get into tax prep, working for oneself. There were personal success stories that helped, although they seemed limited because they showed mainly the good side of the issue.

It's clear that for those working in tax preparation, it would be far more financially rewarding to start one's own tax consultancy. While there's always tax prep work available, tax strategy is considered higher-end and more lucrative if one can break into it. Or it may be best to set up a consultancy that does both, and if the author is correct, that's by far the most common model.

The information and advice in this book seemed correct and reasonable.

I bought my copy in 2003. This is a very good book for anybody starting out in tax consulting or small CPA environment, and even for some experienced practitioners too! The first time I read the book, I was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of information. Everytime I read the book again, I am amazed at how succinct the author was. The section on performing tax research alone, to me was worth more than the price I paid for the book. This book delivered what it promised and more.

I agree with the other one star. There is next to nothing here worthwhile. What is of value could have been written on a page or two.

Save your money.