15 Accounting & Tax Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in studying accounting, accounting and tax internships are a great way to understand various roles within this field, gain practical experience, and receive mentorship from industry professionals.
What do Accounting & Tax internships for high school students involve?
During your internship, you’ll explore various areas, including financial reporting, auditing, bookkeeping, tax preparation, and data analysis. You’ll have the opportunity to understand the roles of various accounting professionals, such as accountants, auditors, tax advisors, and financial analysts, through shadowing.
Why should I do an accounting & tax internship for high school students?
Working on accounting projects will give you a better understanding of financial analysis, data organisation, and accounting software while also helping you understand tax laws and financial regulations. An accounting or tax internship will help bolster your college applications and help you better decide on your college major.
If you’re interested in economics internships, this might be a good place to start. For finance internship opportunities, please check here.
We’ve narrowed down the list of 15 Accounting & Tax Internships for High School Students for you to choose from.
15 Accounting & Tax Internships for High School Students
1. U.S. Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Headquarters offices of Treasury Departmental Offices, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Spring: January – May; Summer: May – August; Fall: September – December
Application Deadline: Spring: October; Summer: December; Fall: June
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, or graduate student; U.S. citizen
The U.S. Department of the Treasury offers an internship program that allows students to explore financially aligned pathways in the public sector. You can choose to intern in one of the many treasury departmental offices, focusing on economic policy, tax policy, and domestic finance. During the internship, you’ll learn about accounting and finance in the federal space, while also developing management and analytical skills. You’ll gain practical accounting experience through working on tasks such as analyzing financial data, researching fiscal and tax-related policies, and contributing to budget formulation.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote. You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: Varies depending on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students. In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies that raise over a million dollars in average. In the program, you work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. IRS Student Volunteer Program (SVP)
Location: Multiple offices across the U.S.
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Applications for enrollment open year-round
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, or otherwise authorized to work in the U.S.; Enrolled at least half-time in an accredited high school, college, technical/vocational school; Must be at least 16 years old; Minimum GPA: 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
The Internal Revenue Service offers a student volunteer program where you’ll gain insight into areas such as auditing, accounting, and tax analysis. You’ll learn how the federal tax system operates by interacting and shadowing professionals such as revenue agents, tax examiners, accountants, and investigators. You’ll also gain exposure to career paths in accounting, finance, and public administration with the federal system while developing skill sets in tasks such as accounting, data analysis, compliance, and communication.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Varies based on the cohort
Application Deadline: You can choose between three application deadlines: Early Decision Deadline: March; Regular Admission Deadline 1: April; and Regular Admission Deadline 2: May.
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. In addition to building the start-up itself, you will participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
5. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Various CLA locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 17 - July 19
Application Deadline: Yet to be announced
Eligibility: High school students authorized to work in the U.S., 16 years or older
Clifton Larson Allen (CLA) offers an internship program for high school students to gain experience in business, finance, accounting, and professional services. You’ll learn about the professional services industry and gain experience in accounting. You’ll be working on actual projects, engaging in case studies, and learning through collaborative activities with like-minded peers. You’ll also explore various accounting and finance pathways by interacting with and shadowing various professionals.
6. KP Launch High School Internship at Kaiser Permanente
Location: Kaiser Permanente offices across the U.S.
Stipend: $24 per hour
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open in November
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are between the ages of 16 to 19; eligible to work in the U.S.
Kaiser Permanente offers a 7-week paid summer internship experience for high school students to explore administrative careers in the healthcare sector. If you choose the accounting, finance, and actuarial track, you’ll focus on areas such as financial reporting, tax planning and preparation, and audit management. You’ll support the accounting team with projects, while also assisting audit professionals in analyzing budgets and streamlining procedures. The internship includes professional development through weekly workshops, mentorship, and shadowing opportunities, and networking with leaders in your area of interest.
7. Bank of Boston Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP)
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Summer (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Income-eligible high school students in Greater Boston; must have completed their sophomore year in Boston Public Schools
The Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is a paid summer internship for high school students interested in exploring career paths in the accounting and financial sector. You’ll first get access to professional development and skill-building workshops at the beginning to prepare you for your internship. There are various tracks to choose from during the program based on your interest, such as finance, accounting, compliance, and human resources. Selection to the program is through the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) Summer Internship program, and selected students might be eligible for an extended year-round internship.
8. Ridgeline Accounting Internship Program
Location: Ridgeline Accounting LLC, Utah County, UT
Stipend: Not mentioned
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Application open year-round
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Ridgeline Accounting is a private accounting firm that offers internships for high school students interested in the intersection of finance, tax prep, and accounting. At the internship, you’ll gain practical work experience working on real accounting projects for businesses and clients. Some of your daily tasks will include tax prep, basis accounting, data entry, business correspondence, budgeting, and financial analysis. Selected students might be eligible for a job offering at the end of their internship.
9. INCPAS Scholars Program
Location: Indianapolis area, Indiana
Cost: Free to participate
Acceptance rate: Accepting
Dates: Year-long experience
Application Deadline: Yet to be announced
Eligibility: High school student enrolled in an Indiana high school or home school program for the applicable school year; Indiana resident; minimum GPA: 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
The INCPAS Scholars program is a year-long experience designed for students interested in exploring accounting-aligned career pathways. In this program, you’ll be paired with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who’ll answer your questions and help you plan for college. The program includes skill development and networking opportunities through interaction with professionals, corporate visits, and campus tours. This program is suited for students who are in the early stages of exploring accounting and want to participate in an exploratory program.
10. RMU Volunteer Income Taxes Assistance (VITA) Program
Location: RMU campus & outreach sites in the Pittsburgh area
Stipend: Not paid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: February – April tax season. Training starts in early January
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open in September
Eligibility: High school students; volunteers must pass the IRS Tax Certification exam and training
Robert Morris University offers an Income Taxes Assistance program for high school students interested in exploring accounting, social work, public policy, and finance-aligned pathways. You’ll first go through virtual professional training that results in IRS Tax Certifications. As a volunteer, you’ll work with the Free Tax Prep Coalition and help people access their full tax refund, and introduce tax programs to people in need. You’ll strengthen your accounting and communication skills by working on tasks such as smoothly operating the tax site, sorting out paperwork, and conducting intake interviews.
11. NABA Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP)
Location: Multiple college/university locations across the U.S.
Cost: Free; fully sponsored
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: One‐week summer residency at each site with year-long support
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students; Minimum GPA: about 2.0 (freshmen/sophomores) and 2.5 (juniors/seniors)
NABA Inc.’s Accounting Career Awareness Program is a program for high school students interested in exploring pathways in accounting, finance, and entrepreneurship. The program includes workshops and webinars by various finance industry leaders who’ll help you explore career paths and share their insights. Although not an internship, you’ll work on your financial literacy and develop various professional skill sets through collaborative project work, case studies, and skill-building activities. The program is fully sponsored and covers tuition, housing, books, and materials.
12. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Various businesses based in Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Varies based on specific internship (typically 6 weeks over the summer)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomore or junior; resident of Chicago, minimum 3.0 average GPA; household income below $80,000
Chicago Summer Business Institute offers paid summer internships for high school students in the financial sector. You’ll be paired to work with various businesses in Chicago and gain practical experience. Previous interns have worked in accounting and finance-related roles in multiple industries such as banking, city administration, and public policy. Some of the tasks you’ll work on include accounting entries, financial analysis, administrative work, and data organization. Selection is competitive and requires two letters of recommendation, your high school transcript, resume, and an essay.
13. Fidelity Investment High School Internship
Location: Boston, MA & Merrimack, NH
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: 5 weeks (exact dates not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open in February
Eligibility: Female-identifying high school students
Fidelity Investment High School Internship is a 5-week-long internship experience open to female students interested in exploring pathways in the financial sector. During the internship, you'll have the opportunity to interact with professionals across finance, operations, and accounting, and learn about their roles through shadowing. By working on projects alongside professionals, you’ll learn how to work with new tools and work on skills such as teamwork, analytical thinking, financial literacy, data handling, and project execution.
14. PWC Virtual Learning Experiences Tax
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Acceptance rate: Open access
Dates: Self-paced program
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all
PWC Virtual Learning Experiences has designed a tax program for high school students interested in exploring tax accounting. The program will make you step into the shoes of a tax professional and will help you understand their role. The program also covers accounting principles, various tools, and professional skills. You’ll work on tasks such as mapping a company’s chart of accounts, calculating taxable income, and identifying M-adjustments. You will earn a certificate at the end of the program.
15. KPMG Career Catalyst Program: Tax High School Edition
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Acceptance rate: Open access
Dates: Self-paced program
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all
KPMG Career Catalyst Program offers insight into the role of tax professionals through a virtual program. You’ll gain insight into the daily tasks of tax professionals, work on projects that mimic real tasks, and work on professional skill sets. Although not an internship, the tasks will give you practical exposure to various accounting and tax concepts, such as inventory management, tax planning, and tax accounting. You’ll also learn how to use various tools, which will be helpful to know before you apply to internships. The program is free to attend and gives you a certificate.
Image Source - PwC logo