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Last Updated on March 31, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Online Courses Offer Flexibility: Access affordable, self-paced payroll and tax
training from QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Udemy, and PayrollTraining Center. - Certification Programs Add Credibility: Gain recognized credentials from organizations like APA, NASBA, or CIMA to boost your professional knowledge and career prospects.
- Excel Is a Must-Have Skill: Mastering Excel enhances your ability to manage financial data, perform complex calculations, and create visual reports efficiently.
- Vloggers and Bloggers Provide Real-World Tips: Follow YouTube channels and accounting blogs for practical advice, tutorials, and insights from industry experts.
- Books Are Still Valuable Resources: Explore well-reviewed accounting books for beginners,
small business owners, and those seeking in-depth industry understanding.
If you’re an entrepreneur, whether you have an accountant working for you or not, you should know at least some of the payroll and tax basics. However, if you have had nothing to do with this field before, it might be challenging to get your head around these topics and start somewhere. Luckily, you have numerous efficient and affordable options, thanks to the internet.
While this abundance is a blessing, you must think it through carefully and decide what you need – basic knowledge or more advanced material. What fields do you want to cover?
Below are some of the best ways to learn about payroll and taxes. The pay stub generator experts checked and reviewed each website.
Take Online Courses
Many courses are available online, depending on the topic you want to learn about. Sometimes, they are free, while others may cost a small fee. However, most are inexpensive, making covering a few specific areas easier without breaking the bank.
Most educators behind these courses have worked in the accounting industry for years. They have vast experience and provide even deeper insights for the learners. Some may have been writing books or conducting workshops on different topics before deciding to create their courses. The best part is that you can learn at your own pace – no strict deadlines or time limits exist.
Some of the
- QuickBooks ProAdvisor
Training – In this course, you’ll learn about the accounting features of the QuickBooks software. It includes topics such as payroll, sales tax, and more. - Payroll
Training Center—This website provides various courses covering different topics in payroll and tax. - Udemy – This platform offers over 250,000 courses on probably every topic you can think about on the spot, including accounting-related topics for every level of knowledge and experience.
Sign Up for a Certification Program
APA (American Payroll Association) is one of the best places to go to if you are looking for the necessary knowledge,
These are self-guided programs, which means you will get materials and can study at your own pace and however you prefer. Possible certificates include FPCs (Fundamental Payroll Certification) for beginners or CPPs (Certified Payroll Professionals) for advanced accountants.
Apart from APA, there is also the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), which offers many free and reduced-cost programs and the possibility of taking the CPA certification exam.
Regarding non-American certificates, you can also check CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), a United Kingdom-based organization offering online courses and programs, as well as practical and written material, for those who want to study the accounting discipline, especially business relations.
You can also find many materials on university websites, which often have programs and courses to help you improve your knowledge in this field.
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Make Friends with Excel
To better understand the accounting world, you will need to master Excel. This software allows you to make even the most complex calculations easily and quickly. In addition, you can add formatting and create visual presentations, which will help you understand the data even better.
Moreover, Excel is a tool that many accountants use daily while working. Therefore, if you learn how to use this software properly, you will have a better chance of being a great accountant.
Explore Vloggers and Bloggers
Many also publish their own content on the Internet. Depending on the topic they want to discuss, they provide their ideas, tips, and tricks.
For instance, YouTube is a place where you can find numerous vloggers who have published thousands of videos about anything you might need to learn more about. Those just starting can check out some of the most popular channels on YouTube, such as Accounting Stuff, Farhat’s Accounting Lectures, or Accounts Adda.
If you’re not one for watching videos, you can explore accounting bloggers and their written content. Some of the best blogs on this topic include Accounting Today, AccountingWEB, and Journal of Accountancy.
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Don’t Forget Good, Old-Fashioned Books
Reading books is another great way to learn more about payroll and taxes. Several good resources are available, written by experts in the field.
Some of the most popular and frequently recommended books include:
- Accounting for Non-Accountants: The Fast and Easy Way to Learn the Basics by Wayne A. Label – for beginners;
- Accounting QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Real-World Financial & Managerial Accounting for Students, Business Owners, and Finance Professionals by Josh Bauerle – for small-business owners;
- Accounting All-in-One for Dummies by Kenneth Boyd – for an overview of terms and practices;
- The Big Four: The Curious Past and Perilous Future of the Global Accounting Monopoly by Ian D. Gow and Stuart Kells – for learning about the potential future of accounting.
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Next Steps
- Choose an
Online Course : To build your foundation, start with a free or low-cost payroll or tax course on Udemy, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, or PayrollTraining Center. - Consider Certification Options: Explore APA, NASBA, or CIMA programs to gain professional credentials and deepen your accounting knowledge at your own pace.
- Practice Excel
Skills Daily: Dedicate weekly time to mastering Excel functions like formulas, pivot tables, and formatting to improve your financial data handling. - Follow Trusted Content Creators: To stay current on tax and payroll trends, subscribe to reliable YouTube channels and blogs such as Accounting Stuff or AccountingWEB.
- Build a Reading List: Read beginner-friendly books like Accounting QuickStart Guide or Accounting for Non-Accountants to strengthen your understanding of key concepts.
Final Words
Accounting and taxes are complicated topics that might seem scary at first. However, thanks to the learning opportunities you have today, you can quickly become familiar with them and even become a professional. You don’t need to be an accountant, but having a good understanding of this field can help you run your business better.
If you’re unsure what course to choose, it’s recommended that you start with a few online courses. These will give you a good basic knowledge of the relevant topics. With a little bit of effort, you will quickly master this field and be able to manage even the most complex tasks.
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