Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Peete.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in high school after working my first job, I started doing my own taxes which was around the year of 2000. During this time, I was trying to decide on a career path. I initially wanted to be a writer and publisher, but my father encouraged me to pursue accounting. During my senior year, I had enrolled into a bookkeeping class and really enjoyed it, so I decided to choose accounting as a major in college. While attending college, I started preparing my parents’ tax returns. After a few years of doing their taxes, my father sparked the idea of starting my own tax service after he met a woman who had her own tax business in Shelbyville, KY. I was on the fence about the idea but decided to get more experience by preparing tax returns for individuals through the AARP tax assistance program which I enjoyed as well. I also worked as a tax intern for a regional accounting firm for one semester in college. After graduating college and working various jobs, I did not start my own tax business until 2019 after a friend of mine encouraged me to do so after telling me about a different woman who had her own tax business for several years in Louisville, KY and was very successful. I was able to get advice from her too which was a plus. So I applied for a FEIN, PTIN, and EFIN and purchased tax preparation software to get started with my virtual tax business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
During the first tax season after getting my FEIN and PTIN, I started out working through a tax business “in a box” company where they provided the software and tools with no upfront costs. However, the profit was split 60/40 on the tax preparation fees. There was a discrepancy when receiving my portion and the software they provided had some technical issues. I only worked with this service for one tax season before officially branching off on my own by purchasing my own tax software, getting my own EFIN, and becoming an ERO.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For the past 20 years, I have worked as an accounting, finance, and business professional for a few Fortune 500 companies such as Humana, Colgate, and UPS. Later in my career, I primarily worked in the higher education industry where I had the opportunity to prepare the tax return for a few years for a School in Atlanta, GA. Currently, I am a finance consultant for an EdTech company. I am known for my resourcefulness, accounting knowledge and technical skills, efficiency in completing assignments and learning financial systems, detail orientation, and my art of reverse engineering when it comes to process improvement and innovation for tasks. All of these aspects set me apart from others.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
As you go through life, connect with people who are genuine and who want the best for you no matter what you decide to do. I was able to find mentors in a few of the supervisors I have worked under as well as a few former co-workers. Networking through events, associations, or online platforms can be helpful as well.
Pricing:
- Tax Preparation – Simple Return starting at $175
- Tax Preparation – Complex Return starting at $350
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jessicastaxservice
