Tax Examiner, Tax Collector, and Revenue Agent Careers
Tax examiners and collectors and revenue agents work to ensure that federal, state and local governments obtain the tax money that is owed to them from businesses and individuals. In order to ensure businesses and individuals pay the taxes they owe, they review tax returns, identify taxes owed, conduct audits and collect overdue tax payments.
Additionally, tax examiners and collectors and revenue agents are responsible for following up with tax payers whose returns are questionable or who owe more money. They typically work in offices and are usually employed by local, state or federal governments.
Tax Examiner, Tax Collector, and Revenue Agent Career Snapshot
Tax examiners and collectors and revenue agents spend most of their time in the office. However, some are employed to conduct field audits and this often involves visits to taxpayers’ homes or businesses. They usually keep regular 9-5 hours but sometimes they have to work under tight deadlines which can be stress inducing. Depending on what level of government they work for, tax collectors may find themselves working in court houses, municipal buildings or large corporations.
Further details on a career as a tax examiner, tax collector, and revenue agents are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average annual salary for tax examiners and collectors and revenue agents.
decrease in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Bachelor’s degree while 32% have a High school diploma or equivalent.
Education
The path to becoming a tax examiner, collector or revenue agent typically involves obtaining a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. In some cases, a combination of relevant education and experience in the field may be sufficient. Typically, these professionals undergo training that can last as little as one month to as long as one year. About 40 percent of these professionals have a bachelor’s degree while 32 percent have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Job Duties
Tax examiners and collectors and revenue agents review filed tax returns for accuracy and legality. These professionals conduct field audits and investigations of income tax returns, contact tax payers to address any issues and notify tax payers of overpayment or underpayment. They must also keep detailed records on every single case they deal with.
Salaries
According to the BLS.gov, as of May 2015, the median annual salary for tax examiners, collectors and revenue agents was $51,430, with the top ten percent earning $96,060 and the bottom ten percent earning $31,660.
Job Outlook
Due to budget reductions in recent years, employment outlook for tax examiners and collectors and revenue agents is expected to decrease by 6 percent between 2014 and 2024.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the primary employer of these professionals, and in recent years they have experienced more severe budget cuts compared to other federal agencies.
Tax Examiner, Tax Collector, and Revenue Agent Skills & Traits
| Tax Examiner, Tax Collector, & Revenue Agent Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Tax Examiner, Tax Collector & Revenue Agents: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Active Listening • Reading Comprehension • Critical Thinking • Speaking • Writing | • Deductive Reasoning • Inductive Reasoning • Oral Comprehension • Oral Expression • Problem Sensitivity | • 10-key calculators • Computer laser printers • Laptop computers • Computer scanners • Multi-line telephone systems | • Getting Information • Working Directly with the Public • Communicating with Others • Processing Information • Evaluating Information |
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