Most holiday jobs wind down in December. Tax season starts right after. If you want work for roughly January through April, both big tax prep chains run beginner courses for people who have never filled out anything harder than their own 1040.
The catch? A lot of the hiring and training happens in the fall. Training comes first. So October is not early. For some of these paths it’s already late-ish.
Here’s how the main doors work: the tax preparer courses at H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, seasonal jobs at the IRS itself, the PTIN you may need, and VITA, which is volunteer work and pays nothing. All facts below come from the companies’ and agencies’ own pages, as of October 2026.
Path 1: H&R Block’s Income Tax Course
New to taxes? H&R Block’s careers site sends you to its Income Tax Course. People who already know taxes can take a Tax Knowledge Assessment instead, which the company says could put you on a “fast track.”
What the course page says, as of October 2026:
- Cost. No tuition or course fees. But most states require you to buy course materials: $149 in most states, $99 in Minnesota. The exceptions listed are Maine, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee and in-person courses in Oklahoma. The materials fee may be non-refundable, depending on your state.
- Length. 40 hours of instruction, plus homework. California runs 70 hours, Oregon 81.
- Timing. Enrollment typically opens in mid-August; instructor-led classes start in early September. Prefer your own pace? Self-paced online classes exist too.
- Who can enroll. You must be at least 18 when you enroll and have a high school diploma or equivalent. No college degree needed.
Now the fine print I’d read twice. Finishing the course is “neither an offer nor a guarantee of employment.” And the course isn’t open to anyone working for, or trying to get hired by, a competing tax prep company. Shopping both chains at once? That clause matters.
After that comes the usual stuff. You apply, maybe interview (virtually or in person), then a background check after an offer. In its September 29, 2026 news release, H&R Block said it’s filling tax pro and client service roles and that positions fill “on a rolling basis.” It didn’t give a hiring number for this season, so I won’t either.
Path 2: Jackson Hewitt’s Fundamentals course
Jackson Hewitt’s basic course is called Fundamentals of Tax Preparation. It’s estimated at about 30 hours, in 12 modules plus a final exam, and it’s offered in the fall. Classes generally meet twice a week for 3 hours, though offices vary. In person, virtual or online, depending on the location.
Cost is the slippery part. Jackson Hewitt says many locations offer the course for little to no cost, company-owned offices don’t charge for tax training, and book and material fees vary. Translation: call your local office and ask for a number.
Same warning as H&R Block. Completing the course “is not a guarantee or offer of employment.”
On October 20, 2026, Jackson Hewitt announced that it and its franchisees plan to hire 15,000 people for the 2026 to 2027 tax season. Its National Hiring Week starts October 26. The events are open to the public, may include on-site interviews, and qualified candidates may get an offer on the spot.
One detail people skip. Most Jackson Hewitt locations belong to independent franchisees. Who’s your employer, then? The franchisee, not Jackson Hewitt. So pay, benefits and policies can differ office to office.
Path 3: Seasonal jobs at the IRS
The IRS hires for filing season too, and it posts its openings on USAJOBS. Three titles worth knowing:
- Contact Representative. Phone help for individuals and businesses. The IRS careers site says these entry-level positions don’t require prior tax experience, and that its training teaches you what you need.
- Tax Examiner (and Tax Examining Technician). Answering taxpayer letters, fixing processing problems, adjusting accounts, computing tax, penalty and interest.
- Clerk. Sorting mail, reviewing forms, filing, and keying or transcribing taxpayer documents.
“Seasonal” has a precise meaning in federal jobs. Under 5 CFR 340.401, seasonal employees work annually recurring periods of less than 12 months and are placed in nonduty, nonpay status between seasons. So it’s not a few weeks of work. It’s part of the year, every year, with unpaid stretches.
A real example helps. One Contact Representative (Seasonal) announcement, open September 17 to 23, 2026, listed 135 openings across nine IRS sites, from Fresno to Ogden. Season length: 6 to 8 months each year. It was a term appointment of up to 13 months, extendable up to 4 years. Full time, day or swing shifts. Pay at GS-5 ran $19.52 to $29.90 an hour depending on location. That one is closed now, so check USAJOBS for new ones.
“No tax experience” isn’t quite “no experience,” though. At GS-5 that announcement wanted one year of specialized experience (things like customer service or working with records), or four years of college, or a mix of both. And you need U.S. citizenship or nationality.
My tip: set a saved search on USAJOBS for the IRS and the word “seasonal.” When the IRS holds hiring events, it strongly recommends applying to the announcement first. Only qualified people who did can get on-the-spot offers.
Do you need a PTIN?
A PTIN is a preparer tax identification number. Per the IRS, anyone who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns for compensation must have a valid 2027 PTIN before preparing returns.
The 2027 fee is $18.75, new or renewal, and it’s non-refundable. The IRS says most first-time applicants can get one online in about 15 minutes. Paper Form W-12 takes 6 weeks. Applications and renewals for 2027 are open now.
Notice “for compensation.” If you’re hired as a paid tax preparer, this applies to you. I’d ask the office when they want it done, so you’re not scrambling in January.
Path 4: VITA (unpaid, but real experience)
Let’s be clear up front: this one doesn’t pay. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs prepare returns free of charge for people who qualify, and IRS Publication 4961 bars volunteers from accepting payment from the people they help.
Why do it, then? Training and practice. No experience is necessary, the IRS said in an October 1, 2026 release, and the training is free. Volunteers get it online or in a classroom, through a sponsoring organization. Every volunteer has to pass a Volunteer Standards of Conduct test with 80% or higher each year. Preparers and reviewers go one step further and certify in tax law. Sites are generally open nights and weekends. Depending on the site, you may get flexible hours or even a virtual option.
To sign up, the IRS has a volunteer form on its site; it shares your interest with local sponsors, who follow up.
| Option | Typical timing | Training | Requirements and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| H&R Block seasonal tax pro | Course enrollment typically mid-August; instructor-led classes early September; jobs fill on a rolling basis | Income Tax Course: no tuition; materials $149 in most states ($99 in MN; not required in ME, NY, SC, TN or in-person OK); 40 hours (70 CA, 81 OR) | 18+ at enrollment; high school diploma or equivalent; course is not a job guarantee; not open to people working or seeking work at competing tax prep firms |
| Jackson Hewitt Tax Pro | Basic course offered in the fall; National Hiring Week starts Oct. 26, 2026 | Fundamentals of Tax Preparation: about 30 hours, 12 modules plus final exam; cost varies by location | Course is not a job guarantee; most offices are franchises, and the franchisee is the employer |
| IRS Contact Representative (Seasonal) | Example posting open Sept. 17 to 23, 2026; 6 to 8 month season | IRS training, possibly at another location or shift until complete | U.S. citizen or national; GS-5 needs 1 year specialized experience, 4 years of college, or a mix; that posting paid $19.52 to $29.90/hour by location |
| IRS VITA/TCE volunteer | Sites generally open nights and weekends | Training online or in class; conduct test at 80% or higher yearly; tax law certification for preparers | Unpaid; no payment from the people you help |
Pay: only trust what’s written down
IRS announcements on USAJOBS list a pay range. The private chains’ pages mostly don’t. Jackson Hewitt says it offers “competitive rates” and to ask your local office. The H&R Block hiring pages I checked don’t list pay at all.
So ask. Before you buy $149 of course materials, ask the office what a first-year tax pro earns per hour, whether there’s a bonus, and how many hours you’d get in a slow week in late February. Some states also require pay ranges in job postings. Our guide to pay transparency and salary negotiation covers that.
Also, watch for fakes. “Tax preparer, work from home, pay a fee to start” is a classic. Our job scam guide lists the red flags.
What to do this week
- Decide: H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt? H&R Block’s course rules exclude people seeking work at competitors, so you may have to pick one.
- Pick up the phone and call the nearest office. Three questions: what the course costs, when it starts, and what a first-year tax pro gets paid.
- Jackson Hewitt route: check if a hiring event near you falls in the week of October 26.
- Set a USAJOBS alert for IRS seasonal roles. Have your resume ready in the format USAJOBS wants.
- Want experience without the job? Fill out the IRS VITA/TCE volunteer form.
- Still hunting for something before January? Our guide to holiday seasonal jobs in 2026 covers retail and warehouse timing.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not career, legal, tax, or financial advice. Course costs, hiring dates, pay and requirements vary by location and can change. Check the official sources below or contact the employer or agency directly before you enroll or apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience to become a seasonal tax preparer?
Not tax experience, at least for the two big chains: both have beginner courses. You still need to finish the course and get hired, and neither company promises a job.
Is the H&R Block tax course free?
Tuition is free. Course materials cost $149 in most states and $99 in Minnesota, with a few states exempt.
How much is a PTIN for 2027?
$18.75 from the IRS, for new applications and renewals.
Are IRS seasonal jobs only for tax season?
Not really, they run on a yearly cycle. The September 2026 Contact Representative posting, for example, described a 6 to 8 month season, with stretches in non-pay status as workload or budget dictates.
Does VITA pay?
No. It’s volunteer work, and volunteers can’t accept payment from the people they help. It does come with training and certification.
Sources
- H&R Block: Online Income Tax Preparation Course (www.hrblock.com/corporate/income-tax-course)
- H&R Block Careers: Tax Office Opportunities (careers.hrblock.com/tax-opportunities)
- H&R Block Careers: Who and How We Hire (careers.hrblock.com/who-and-how-we-hire)
- H&R Block News Center: H&R Block Investing in the Expertise That Millions of Taxpayers Depend On, September 29, 2026 (www.hrblock.com/tax-center/newsroom/company-news/investing-in-the-expertise-that-millions-of-taxpayers-depend-on)
- Jackson Hewitt: Tax Preparation Classes (www.jacksonhewitt.com/tax-preparation-classes)
- Jackson Hewitt: Tax Pro Careers (www.jacksonhewitt.com/careers/tax-pro-careers)
- Jackson Hewitt News and Events: Jackson Hewitt seeks 15,000 seasonal employees nationwide, October 21, 2026 (www.jacksonhewitt.com/about-jackson-hewitt/news-and-events)
- IRS Careers: Contact Representatives (jobs.irs.gov/contact-representatives)
- IRS Careers: Customer Service (jobs.irs.gov/customer-service)
- IRS Careers: Management, Administrative and Clerical (jobs.irs.gov/management-administrative-clerical)
- USAJOBS: Contact Representative (Seasonal), Direct Hire, TERM, announcement 26-13064951K-TSD-0962-5 (irs.usajobs.gov/job)
- IRS: IR-2026-72, IRS announces nationwide hiring events for customer service representatives and tax examining technicians (www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-nationwide-hiring-events-for-customer-service-representatives-and-tax-examining-technicians)
- eCFR: 5 CFR 340.401, Definitions (seasonal employment) (www.ecfr.gov/current/chapter-I/subchapter-B/subpart-D)
- IRS: PTIN Requirements for Tax Return Preparers (www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/ptin-requirements-for-tax-return-preparers)
- IRS: IRS Tax Volunteers (www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-tax-volunteers)
- IRS: IR-2026-118, The IRS seeks community partners and volunteers to support free tax services, October 1, 2026 (www.irs.gov/newsroom/the-irs-seeks-community-partners-and-volunteers-to-support-free-tax-services)
- IRS: Publication 4961, VITA/TCE Volunteer Standards of Conduct, Ethics Training (Rev. 10-2026) (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf)
