Experience: Why Years in Practice Aren’t the Whole Story
Experience matters, but the number of years someone has been preparing tax returns does not tell you everything you need to know.
The 30-Second Answer
Years tell you duration. Repetitions tell you exposure. For specialized work, the second number can be more informative.
Relevant Experience Matters
A professional with ten years of concentrated S corporation work may have more relevant experience for an S corporation owner than someone with thirty years of primarily simple individual returns.
Ask for Frequency, Not Just Years
How many returns like mine do you prepare? How often do you deal with this issue? Is this a routine part of your practice? When did you last handle something similar?
Recent Experience Matters
Tax law, procedures, software, and state rules change. Experience from many years ago is useful, but current repetition matters too.
Know Who Actually Has the Experience
In a larger firm, the person you meet may not be the person preparing the return. Ask who prepares it, who reviews it, and who is responsible for the final result.
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Use this worksheet or checklist alongside the guide.
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Reviewed by Owen Arnoff, EA, NTPI Fellow
Reviewed: October 2026
Technical tax content is intended for general education. Tax law and procedures can change, and individual facts matter. See our Editorial Standards.