As mentioned by some others:

AA from 2 year colleges (often community colleges)

BA from 4-year colleges / universities (4 years of study at the school…or 2 years if transferring from an accredited community college or any other accredited 4-year school–if first 2 years done at the other school)

MA from 4-year colleges / universities (varies from 1-3+ years AFTER an MA from the same school or from another accredited college/university)

Check with your State Tax office about the qualifications to become a tax preparer. Do this FIRST before signing up for any classes or online courses.

In most cases, no degree is needed. Check to see if there is an association of tax preparers in your city or state…they can give you insights to the job.

Obviously, the more training and education you have in accounting and tax law the better. For many, the ultimate qualification is to become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant)…they can handle taxes but are not restricted to doing taxes…Learn more at http://www.cpa-exam.org/get_started/steps.html

The IRS offers tax preparation by volunteers…check into this to get a feel for what’s available (possible competition when you are starting out…or a means of gaining practical experience before launching your own business). See more at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html

A good foundation is a balance of academic study and practical experience. But find out about the regulations for tax preparers in you State before taking any classes in or out of school.

Hope this helps you. Best wishes in you future.

An pals is typically earned at an area college or a junoir college and takes approximately 2 years (it particularly isn’t any longer nicely worth a good purchase). A bachelors degree is accomplished at a school or a school and takes approximately 4 years. A masters degree may be aquired once you complete your bachelors and is accomplished in a particular discipline (i.e. guidance, english, history, math, and so on and so on and so on). those take approximately 2 years. A doctorate degree comes after your masters and is the utmost echelon of guidance (lower back completed in a particular discipline). The bachelors, masters, and doctorate all pass collectively (i.e. in case you get a bachelors in math, you do no longer paintings on your masters in literature). in actuality, you will be able to desire to have a foundation in a topic as an undergrad (bachelors) to pass directly to graduate learn (masters/doctoral). often the guideline of thumb is that a school does not have graduate learn and a school does. it particularly isn’t any longer a confusing and rapid rule, in actuality, many many many colleges do no longer stick to this.

From what I think:

Associate Degree – 2 year college

Bachelor Degree – 4 year college/uni

Master Degree – Is after Bachelor Degree, basically like grad school.

I’d suggest atleast a Bachelor’s degree and also become a CPA before thinking about opening your own office.

Associates- 2 years of college

Bachelor’s- 4 year college degree

Master’s- Higher education after college (MBA, M.S., M.A., etc)

You can probably open an income tax office with an Associates and good business sense, however you’ll be more credible to potential clients with an MBA and extensive experience.