Occupation Profile for Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents work for Federal, State, and local governments.
Employment is expected to have little or no change, but the large number of retirements over the next 10 years should create many job openings.
Competition will be greatest for positions with the Internal Revenue Service.

Core — Maintain knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial information.
Core — Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
Core — Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
Core — Collect taxes from individuals or businesses according to prescribed laws and regulations.
Core — Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.