Tax advisors use their knowledge of tax legislation to provide advisory and consultancy services to clients, ensuring that they pay their taxes in the most efficient way and benefit from any tax advantages and exemptions. They keep up to date with changing tax laws and explain complicated legislation and its implications to their clients in simple terms.
There are two main types of tax advice:
corporate - working for business clients to make sure they are not paying any more tax than is necessary;
personal - providing advice to individual clients, some of whom are private clients with large assets.
The work is detailed and complex, and tax advisors quickly develop expert knowledge in areas such as corporate, personal, international and inheritance tax, National Insurance, VAT, and trusts and estates.
Clients include large and small companies, partnerships, trusts and individuals.

Tasks:

1. Planning ahead to help clients understand their financial futures
2. Structuring the affairs of clients to minimise tax liability
3. Preparing tax returns
4. Submitting tax returns
5. Making complicated computations
6. Preparing various documents
7. Researching and analysing tax legislation on a frequent basis
8. Meeting with clients to help them understand the changing legislation
9. Working with revenue provisions
10. Meeting and negotiating with HM Revenue and Customs

Key skills for tax consultant:

• An analytical mind capable of interpreting data and written information
• The ability to take on, and preferably enjoy, new challenges
• The ability to negotiate with others in a calm manner
• The ability to be diplomatic in certain situations
• An ability to solve complex and varied problems
• Good communication skills
• The ability to be adaptable
• The ability to assimilate a lot of complicated information into a short brief capable of being understood by all clients
• Staying updated and well-informed about all areas of tax law
• The ability to work to strict deadlines

Average salary (2013):

The United Kingdom: Annual starting salaries for graduate trainees typically range from £20,000 to £32,000. Newly qualified chartered tax advisors (CTAs) can expect an annual salary in the range of £26,000 to £36,000. Salaries for CTAs can rise to around £55,000. Managers can earn between £50,000 and £68,000 annually, rising to £95,000 for senior managers. There is the potential for directors to earn up to £140,000 a year.
The United States of America: $55,000 per year
Australia: AU$55,608 per year

Qualifications and training required:

There are no specific education requirements for tax consultants. However, a consultant often gets a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. In other cases, a person may become a consultant after years of working in another tax-related profession. Clients with more complex tax needs may even prefer a consultant with an advanced degree, such as a master's in taxation or a juris doctor degree with a focus on tax law.