The end of summer isn’t when most of us think about income taxes, but accounting firms are quietly making plans for the 2009 tax season — and that includes finding workers to help with the crush.

H&R Block is recruiting again locally for people to prepare taxes. Steve Cook, the office development leader for H&R Block’s Boise office, says he plans to hire 50 Treasure Valley residents to work Jan. 1 through April 15. He hopes to recruit 165 people to take classes that start Sept. 8 and last until Thanksgiving. That’s more than the 100 people the company got last fall. Cook (344-2301, steven.cook@tax.hrblock.com) wants more candidates to allow H&R Block to be more selective in hiring.

Those hired will prepare basic individual and business returns. The pay is modest: $10 an hour or more, depending on experience (“If they’re a CPA, the pay will be different than someone who’s a first-year,” Cook said) with a commission at the end based on how many returns the employee completes.