Tax Manager Interview Questions & Answers


Tax Managers prepare and file state and federal tax documents for companies or individuals. They develop and implement strategies to aid their clients in complying with tax legislation.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Tax Manager or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Tax Manager position, these Tax Manager interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Tax Manager Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Tax Manager interview questions.

  1. How do you ensure that you are up-to-date with the latest tax legislation?
  2. How do you ensure that tax returns are submitted in a timely manner?
  3. How has your previous work experience prepared you for this role as a Tax Manager?
  4. What was the biggest error you have made regarding tax returns? How did you rectify it?
  5. As a Tax Manager, how would you address a member of the tax team that has been underperforming?
  6. What data would you collect to forecast next year’s tax returns?
  7. What would you do if you found significant numerical errors in a tax estimation only after you sent your report to a client?
  8. How would you check the accuracy of an accountant’s work?
  9. Do you have any previous management experience?
  10. How would you present in simple terms the tax risks a client would face by making an investment?
  11. What are the main differences between state and federal taxes?
  12. What will be your number one concern on a day-to-day basis in this role as a tax manager?
  13. How will you ensure your team’s deadlines are met?
  14. Tell me about your experience with audits.
  15. What kind of accounting software have you used?
  16. How do you organize physical records of important paperwork?
  17. Tell me about a policy you helped to develop. What was the result?
  18. There is a new tax law that impacts your clients. How do you handle the situation?
  19. How do you manage foreign affiliate returns?
  20. Which tax software programs are you familiar with?
  21. Do you have experience with employee performance? How do you give feedback to your team members?
  22. What would you do if you noticed a discrepancy in a client’s financial records?
  23. Have you ever faced an ethical dilemma at work? If so, how did you manage it?
  24. Provide an example of a time when you had to provide guidance on a complex tax issue.
  25. Tell us about the most difficult issue you faced while working on a tax return.
  26. Speaking generally, what documents do you need from your clients to be able to prepare their tax return?
  27. Describe a time you helped a company minimize its tax obligations.
  28. What is the most important aspect of preparing and filing tax returns?
  29. How do you manage deadlines when working for different clients at the same time?
  30. How would you describe the relationship between a tax manager and an accountant?
  31. Describe a situation when you helped one of your clients save a significant amount of money with your tax advice.
  32. Tell us about a difficult client you worked with in your professional career as a tax manager.
  33. How would you present the tax risks a client would face by making an investment, in a simple terms they should understand?
  34. With whom would you share confidential details about your clients?
  35. What sets you apart from other tax managers?

Tax Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Tax Manager interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  2. Tell Me About Yourself
  3. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  4. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  5. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  6. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  7. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
  8. Why Should We Hire You?
  9. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  10. Why Do You Want This Job?