13 Tax Intern Resume Examples for 2025

Creating a resume for a tax intern position can be challenging. This article provides proven resume examples tailored to tax internships. Get strategic advice on how to highlight relevant coursework, technical skills, and any prior experience that aligns with tax regulation and compliance.

  Compiled and approved by Diana Price
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best tax intern resumes.

  • Show Impact Using Numbers: The best resumes show impact using numbers such as accuracy improvement, reduced errors, time saved, and cost savings. Metrics like increased efficiency and data processed are also common.

  • Highlight Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are Excel, QuickBooks, tax preparation, data analysis, and accounting software. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Showcase Internship Experience: Include internship experience. Sample phrases include handled tax forms, assisted with audits, and prepared financial statements.

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Position your education wisely

Place your education section near the top of your resume if you are currently a student or have recently graduated. This shows that you are new to the workforce and that your latest educational achievements are one of your main strengths. For those studying or freshly skilled in tax-related fields, this is crucial. It helps show your knowledge is up to date.

If you have been working or interning in tax-related roles, consider moving your education further down. Instead, lead with your relevant tax experience. Hiring managers want to see practical experience first if it’s strong. If you’ve completed additional tax certification or coursework, ensure to highlight it prominently. This could be your ticket to standing out among other applicants.

Highlight relevant coursework

When applying for a tax intern role, make your resume more relevant by listing specific coursework related to taxation, finance, and accounting.

Include any projects or group work where you applied tax principles. This demonstrates practical application of your knowledge.

Ideal resume length

Your resume should be concise and to the point. As someone seeking a role as a tax intern, it's best to aim for a single page. Highlight your most relevant skills and experiences that align with a tax intern position, such as any accounting coursework or practical experience with tax-related projects.

Even if you have a range of experiences, focus on what's essential for the role in tax and accounting. If your resume extends beyond one page, it could signal that you need to prioritize your content more effectively. Remember, simplicity and relevance are key. Aim to make a strong impression with a clear, brief resume that showcases your good fit for a tax internship.

Show proficiency with tax software

Employers value candidates familiar with industry-standard tax software. Be sure to list any specific programs you have used, such as QuickBooks, SAP, or TaxSlayer.

Highlighting this knowledge can give you a strong advantage over candidates without such expertise.

Optimize for applicant tracking systems

When you apply for a tax intern position, your resume often needs to pass through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a hiring manager sees it. To make sure your resume gets noticed, you need to highlight the right skills and keywords.

In your resume, focus on skills that are important for tax interns. For instance, include terms like 'tax preparation' and 'financial analysis'. Also, make sure you add any relevant software you are familiar with, like tax software or Excel. This shows you have the technical skills needed for the job.

Here are some tips to help your resume stand out:

  • Use clear, simple job titles like 'intern' and add tax-related terms like 'tax support' or 'tax project assistance'.
  • Add any coursework or projects that are related to tax or accounting to show your relevant background.

Highlight relevant skills

You need to show skills that match what a tax intern needs. Think about what you've done that fits - have you worked with numbers, followed tax rules, or helped with money tasks? Put those at the top so they're easy to see.

  • Show your experience with tax software by mentioning tools like TurboTax or QuickBooks.
  • Include any projects or classes where you applied tax laws, like a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
  • List math classes or jobs where you managed money to show you have good number skills.

Showcase your achievements

When crafting your resume as an aspiring tax intern, it's important to focus on your accomplishments rather than just listing job responsibilities. This will give you an edge, showing potential employers what you can actually deliver.

Think about tasks you've handled in past roles, academic projects, or volunteer work, and then turn these into quantifiable achievements. For example:

  • Instead of writing 'Assisted with tax preparation,' you could say 'Supported the preparation of 100+ individual tax returns, enhancing process efficiency by 20%'.
  • Rather than 'Handled client tax inquiries,' try 'Resolved 50+ weekly tax-related inquiries, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate.'

The difference lies in making your experience come alive. Show how you made a difference and add numbers to back up your achievements. This makes your contribution feel more real and impactful to hiring managers.

Use dynamic action verbs

When you apply for a tax internship, it's important to show you're active and engaged in your learning and work. Choose verbs that convey your involvement in projects and your capacity to deliver results. This will help your resume stand out to hiring managers looking for energetic and proactive interns.

Below is a list of verbs that can effectively describe your experiences and accomplishments in the field of tax work. Each one tells a different story of how you've engaged with your tasks and contributed to your previous roles or academic projects.

  • To display analytical skills, use analyzed, assessed, calculated, estimated, reconciled.
  • Show your organizational ability with organized, prepared, filed, catalogued, maintained.
  • To reflect your teamwork skills, include collaborated, contributed, participated, coordinated, supported.
  • Demonstrate your learning attitude with researched, studied, learned, observed, attended.
  • For problem-solving abilities, use resolved, addressed, troubledshot, refined, improved.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Implemented, Pursue, Motivated, Make, Grow.

Highlighting your leadership growth

As you look to step into a tax intern role, showing any leadership growth can set you apart. Even if you're unsure how, think about times you've taken charge or moved up in a role or project. It's important to show these in a clear way.

  • If you led a team project in school, describe your role and the outcome. For example, 'Led a team of four in a tax research project that resulted in a 15% increase in class understanding of tax compliance.'
  • Include any official titles or roles that signal growth, such as 'Promoted from member to treasurer of the college accounting club, managing budget reports and financial planning.'

Remember, even informal leadership counts. If you trained new members in a club or part-time job, mention it. Use phrases like 'Trained five new members in accounting software,' which shows you were trusted to guide others. This can demonstrate leadership potential to employers.

Essential skills for tax interns

When you're building your resume as a tax intern, it's critical to highlight the right skills that show you're fit for the job. Here's a list of key skills you should consider:

  • Tax preparation
  • Accounting principles
  • Financial analysis
  • Attention to detail
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Use of tax software
  • Data entry
  • Spreadsheet proficiency
  • Basic math skills
  • Understanding of tax codes

These skills should be included in a dedicated section on your resume. This makes it easier for hiring managers to see your abilities quickly. Also, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. By listing these skills, you help ensure your resume will be seen by a human.

Remember, you don't need to show all these skills. Focus on those that match the job you want. For example, if the job focuses on using specific tax software, make sure you highlight your experience with that software. Tailor your resume to the position's needs, and you'll have a better chance at getting the job.

Quantify your impact

When you detail your work as a tax intern, it's crucial to show your impact with numbers. Numbers make your achievements clear and easy to understand. They also help hiring managers see the exact value you can bring to their team.

Think about your tasks and ask yourself: How have I improved processes or outcomes? For example, you might have:

  • Streamlined a filing system, resulting in a 20% faster retrieval time.
  • Assisted with tax preparation for over 100 clients during the busy season.
  • Conducted 50+ hours of tax law research that led to 5 key amendments in filing practices.
  • Helped identify $10,000 worth of tax deductions for clients.

Even if you’re not sure about the exact numbers, estimate them based on your experience. For instance, if you frequently helped clients with their tax queries, you can approximate the number of clients you assisted each week. Use phrases like 'approximately' or 'around' to indicate estimates. Remember, precise metrics increase your credibility and show that you are results-oriented.

Tailor for company size

When you apply for tax intern positions, think about the size of the company. For a big company, like Deloitte or Ernst & Young, show you can handle complex tasks and large amounts of data. You might say 'Managed detailed tax computations for multiple clients' to show this skill. Big companies often look for interns who understand corporate culture and teamwork. Use phrases like 'Collaborated with a team of 10 in a corporate setting'.

For smaller firms or startups, they might want you to wear many hats. Mention that you are 'Able to adapt to various tax projects with ease'. Small companies may value your drive to learn quickly and your personal touch. You might include 'Eager to learn and apply new tax regulations in a dynamic work environment'. Remember, in smaller settings, your ability to connect with the team and multitask is as important as your tax skills.

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