Who should I follow to learn about accounting and tax?

If you mean people/accounts to follow online, I’d tailor the list to whether you want U.S. personal tax, small-business accounting, investing, or professional CPA-level knowledge. What are you trying to learn?

Learning about accounting and tax depends heavily on whether you want to master general accounting principles, stay updated on complex tax code changes, or learn how to run a modern accounting firm.

The top experts, creators, and thought leaders to follow are organized by what they do best:

1. For Tax Policy, Compliance, and News

• Kelly Phillips Erb ("TaxGirl") Top 10 Accounting Influencers to Follow on Social Media in 2020

• Where to follow: LinkedIn, X (Twitter), her Taxgirl Podcast 15 accounting influencers you should follow - Content Snare

• Why: A former Forbes senior editor and tax attorney, Kelly translates dense tax legislation, legal updates, and IRS changes into clear, highly digestible insights for both professionals and everyday taxpayers. Top 10 Accounting Influencers to Follow on Social Media in 2020

• Richard Rubin Top 10 Accounting Influencers to Follow on Social Media in 2020

• Where to follow: X (Twitter), The Wall Street Journal

• Why: As a senior tax policy reporter for the WSJ, he is one of the absolute best sources for following macro-level tax policy, federal legislation, and Washington budget shifts.

• Sylvia Dion Top 10 Accounting Influencers to Follow on Social Media in 2020

• Where to follow: LinkedIn, X (Twitter) 15 accounting influencers you should follow - Content Snare

• Why: A leading authority on State and Local Tax (SALT) who breaks down complex multi-state tax compliance and rules for businesses. Top Accounting Influencers to Follow in [2026]

2. For Core Accounting, Tech, and Practice Management

• Jason Staats, CPA Top 12 Accounting Influencers You Should Follow in 2026 - Verito

• Where to follow: YouTube, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Substack 6 Accounting Influencers You Should Follow - Uncat

• Why: Essential for practitioners and students alike. Jason provides incredible software teardowns, workflow breakdowns, and practical guidance on running a modern cloud accounting or client advisory services (CAS) practice. Top Accounting Influencers to Follow in [2026]

• Blake Oliver, CPA Top Accounting Influencers to Follow in [2026]

• Where to follow: LinkedIn, The Accounting Podcast

• Why: Blake sits right at the intersection of accounting, automation, and industry news. His podcast is a staple for anyone wanting to know how technology (and AI) is reshaping the accounting world. Top Accounting Influencers to Follow in [2026]

• James Hearle (Accounting Stuff) 15 accounting influencers you should follow - Content Snare

• Where to follow: YouTube

• Why: If you are a student or a beginner trying to learn financial accounting fundamentals (debits/credits, financial statements, bookkeeping), his visual, beginner-friendly YouTube tutorials are among the best on the internet.

3. For Entrepreneurial Tax Strategy & Small Business Planning

• Mark J. Kohler, CPA, Esq. Top 50 Tax Influencers in 2026

• Where to follow: YouTube, Instagram, Main Street Business Podcast Top 50 Tax Influencers in 2026

• Why: Great for small business owners and real estate investors looking to understand entity structuring, legal protection, and how to legally cut their tax bills.

• Amanda Han, CPA Top 50 Tax Influencers in 2026

• Where to follow: Instagram, LinkedIn

• Why: Specializes in wealth building, real estate tax strategies, and proactive tax planning for entrepreneurs.

Recommended "Learning Stack" Strategy

• For learning foundational accounting: Watch Accounting Stuff on YouTube.

• For daily/weekly tax & tech news: Tune into The Accounting Podcast (Blake Oliver) and follow Jason Staats on YouTube or LinkedIn.

• For macro tax law and policy changes: Keep an eye on Kelly Phillips Erb and Richard Rubin.

Are you looking to learn accounting for career/academic purposes, or are you trying to figure out tax strategies for a business or personal portfolio?

Depending on whether you want high-level business strategy, practical tax-saving tips for everyday entrepreneurs, or deep-dive technical updates, the right expert to follow changes.

For Tax Strategy & Small Business (YouTube, LinkedIn, & Podcasts)

Mark Kohler : A CPA, attorney, and bestselling author who specializes in legal and tax loopholes for small business owners and real estate investors. Check out his insights via the Mark Kohler YouTube Channel or connect with him on Mark Kohler's LinkedIn Profile.

Karlton Dennis : A licensed Enrolled Agent who breaks down complex tax reduction strategies (like real estate and S-corps) for high-earning individuals and everyday taxpayers. Explore his video breakdowns on the Karlton Dennis YouTube Channel. Karlton DennisWhy I Became A Tax Strategist

For Legal Tax Insights & Breaking Tax News

Kelly Phillips Erb (Taxgirl) : A tax attorney who makes tax law digestible, engaging, and relevant to current events (including pop culture and creator economies). Follow her commentary via Taxgirl on LinkedIn or check out her writing on Taxgirl Official Website. Kelly Phillips Erb - Tax Attorney | Tax Writer | Speaker | Because paying taxes is painful... but reading (or hearing) about them shouldn’t be. | LinkedInKelly Phillips Erb's Post - LinkedIn

For Modern Accounting, Advisory, & Industry Trends

• • Jody Padar : Known as the "Radical CPA," she is a major voice in digital accounting transformation, advisory shift, and future-forward CPA practices. You can follow her thought leadership on Jody Padar's LinkedIn Profile. 7 of the Best Influencers Every Accountant Should Follow

• Tom Hood : As a leading change agent in the accounting profession and executive vice president at AICPA & CIMA, he focuses heavily on the future of accounting, AI, and leadership. Connect with him via Tom Hood's LinkedIn Profile. [Learnsignal +1]

Institutional & News Feeds to Monitor

• • AICPA Official Website for official regulatory shifts and professional accounting standards.

• Accounting Today for industry news, trends, and tax season updates.

Are you looking to learn accounting and tax for a small business/personal finance purpose , or are you pursuing it as a career/professional development path? I can tailor specific book or course recommendations based on your goal.

For accounting fundamentals, follow James Hearle’s Accounting Stuff on YouTube; his tutorials cover financial statements, depreciation, and bookkeeping basics. For tax, try Kelly Phillips Erb (@taxgirl), a tax lawyer who writes about tax issues. These are starting points - tax advice is country-specific.(izea.com)(taxgirl.com)

Follow Blake Oliver, Kelly Phillips Erb (“TaxGirl”), Jody Padar, and Hector Garcia for practical tax and accounting insights, and add voices like Tom Hood and Jennifer Wilson for strategy and leadership. These experts consistently share updates on tax law, accounting technology, and firm management, making them excellent resources to stay current.Top 12 Accounting Influencers You Should Follow in 2026Top Accounting Influencers to Follow in [2026]Top 20 Accounting Influencers to Follow in 202615 accounting influencers you should follow

📊 Key Influencers in Accounting & Tax

✅ How to Use These Voices

• For tax updates: Follow Kelly Phillips Erb (“TaxGirl”) and Dawn Brolin for practical IRS and compliance insights.

• For firm strategy & leadership: Engage with Tom Hood, Jennifer Wilson, and Jody Padar.

• For technology & automation: Blake Oliver, Jason Staats, and Randy Johnston are essential.

• For pricing & profitability: Ron Baker’s work on value pricing is highly influential.

⚠️ Risks & Considerations

• Volume vs. quality: Many influencers post frequently, but not all provide actionable insights. Stick to those with proven CPA backgrounds and consistent publishing.US Accounting Influencers Worth Following | The Firm

• Bias toward U.S. context: Most top voices are U.S.-based; if you need international tax perspectives, supplement with regional experts.

• Regulation churn: Tax law changes quickly; always verify influencer commentary against official IRS or state guidance before acting.

Would you like me to tailor this list toward small business owners (practical tax tips) or accounting professionals (firm strategy and leadership)? That way, I can highlight the most relevant voices for your needs.