Tax agents in New Zealand are approved by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). They prepare the annual tax returns of income for 10 or more taxpayers. A tax agent can be a person in a business where income tax returns are prepared, or a professional that carries out this service.

Under the oversight of an accountant prepares tax returns, provision schedules, payments, reports, and maintains an entities’ or individual’s tax database; finds tax solutions to complicated tax issues or errors from incorrect tax filings; may liaise with IRD staff about tax debts and payment plans; identifies legal tax savings and may recommend ways to minimise tax liability; makes sure that clients comply with tax regulations; may advise about the impact of tax liabilities, corporate strategies, or new tax laws; coordinates outsourced tax preparation work; accurately prepares quarterly and annual tax reports; keeps up-to-date with tax changes and industry trends by participating in educational opportunities, professional organizations, and professional networks, and by reading professional publications.

• Indoor office environment which may range from a large corporate-type office down to a smaller sole-charge office.
• Works predominantly at office desks, usually with a computer workstation.
• Usually works in adequately heated and ventilated spaces.

• Physical demand level is sedentary.
• Spends the day predominantly sitting at a workstation carrying out a variety of both manual and computerised data entry and processing tasks.
• Will also need to operate printers, copiers, and a range of other minor office equipment, and refill paper trays and ink supplies.
• Occasional movement about the office is required.
• Repetitive arm, hand, and finger movements are constant in regards to data-entry and data processing tasks.
• Lifting, stretching, twisting, bending, squatting, or crouching is not a significant component of the job. Climbing is not required.
• Driving may be necessary occasionally to visit clients but is not a significant component of the job.
• Use of minor office hand-held objects such as pens, calculators, and staplers, as well as telephones will also be occasional to frequent.
• Skills and knowledge necessary include a high level of: concentration, mathematical accuracy, literacy/knowledge of tax regulations, written and verbal communication skills, computer literacy, and organisation skills.

• Be a Full Accounting Technician Member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) (ANZSCO Skill Level 2), or be supervised by a Full Member of the CAANZ, or be a Full Member of the CAANZ.
• Hold a current approval as a Tax Agent from the IRD.
• Roles which might involve some driving will require a minimum of a Class 1(R) Driver Licence.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement.