Our Mission

Our mission is to provide beginner and advanced tax education courses, offering our students the knowledge and skills needed to deliver great service and build clientele in the competitive tax preparation industry.

Our Values

The tax profession is both a practical and an ethical practice. Along with comprehensive, line-by-line instructions for preparing tax returns, Pacific Northwest Tax School emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of the tax professional, providing instructions for due diligence procedures, lawful compliance, protection against identity theft, best business practices and other topics in professional ethics. We believe a thorough understanding of these topics is integral to your successful tax practice.

Our Story

Pacific Northwest Tax School, Inc. is an independently owned and operated Oregon Corporation. The school was initially formed in 2001 to provide quality training to prospective tax preparers for Pacific Northwest Tax Service.

Founder April Gutierrez applied years of tax preparation experience to the development of the program, educating students about tax law and preparing them to excel at the rigorous Oregon State LTP exams. After launching the program in September 2001, Pacific Northwest Tax School’s first graduates of the Basic 80-Hour Tax Course went on to achieve an average pass-rate of 80% at the Oregon Tax Board examinations, quickly proving the merits of the program. Since then, pass rates at the Oregon Tax Board exams have been consistently among the highest in Oregon.

Pacific Northwest Tax School has worked continuously to improve upon the school and its curriculum. In 2004, the school began offering the 80-Hour Basic Tax Course as a correspondence course. In 2008, we launched the first online offering of the 80-Hour Basic Tax Course. Live, interactive webinars and self-paced online versions of the course were offered. Overall, student reviews were very positive and graduates of the 2008 online Basic Tax Course achieved a pass-rate of 97% at the Oregon Tax Board exams. The online program became very successful, eventually replacing all classroom instruction, and providing open access to students from any location.

In 2018, Pacific Northwest Tax School marked its 17th year as a training institution by launching this dynamic, new learning management system and website. This updated website is easier to navigate, yet provides all of the same advanced materials and information the school has always offered. For our many new and returning students, we strive to continue developing the curriculum you need to provide excellent and professional tax preparation services.

April Gutierrez

Founder, Course Instructor

Since 1992, Pacific Northwest Tax Service has grown into one of the largest independent tax services in Oregon. April has focused on continually improving and expanding upon the range of products and services provided by the company. After recognizing a need to better train her tax preparers on the fundamentals of law, April wrote and developed a basic 80-hour tax course that would focus on preparing students to pass the Oregon Tax Preparer Exams. The quality of the school and its curriculum has produced graduates who consistently achieve some of the highest pass rates of any tax school at the Oregon Tax Board Exams. Student pass rates are consistently 20-40% higher than those of other national and local tax schools.

Although originally offered as a classroom course, Pacific Northwest Tax School’s 80-Hour Basic Tax Course is now taught completely online. April continues to write and teach CPE programs for LTCs, LTPs, EAs and CPAs. Known for her entertaining speaking style and ability to make a complex subject easy to understand, April is frequently invited to speak to business groups and news media on tax-related topics.

April resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband Jess and their two sons. Her pastimes include gardening, travel and playtime with her Arabian horse, Fancy.

Nancy Aleshire

Tax School Administrator

Since 2008, Nancy has served hundreds of tax clients, and played a vital role in the continued development and delivery of content to thousands of tax professionals who complete Pacific Northwest Tax School’s educational programs every year. In 2013, Nancy passed Oregon’s rigorous tax consultant exam and was rewarded with the credential of Licensed Tax Consultant.

Nancy was born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon, and now resides in Hillsboro, with her husband and two children. She is an avid reader, who enjoys taking long walks with her two dogs, and summer camping trips with her family.

SanDee Tharp

Tax School Administrator

In 2002 Ms. Tharp decided to pursue an interest in taxes by enrolling in Pacific Northwest Tax School’s 80-Hour Basic Tax Course. She graduated as a top student, and after successfully passing the Oregon Tax Board’s LTP exam, came to work for the company. After working two seasons as a LTP, she passed the Board LTC exam and is now a Licensed Tax Consultant.

In 2004, Ms. Tharp moved from seasonal tax preparer work to a full-time position with Pacific Northwest Tax Service as Director of Education and Personnel. Her current duties include tax school administration and instruction, as well as tax consulting and preparation services for a broad range of clientele.

Outside of her professional career, Ms. Tharp is an avid Nascar fan. Her interests include interior decorating, reading and entertaining. She shares her home with husband Brian and two pet cats.