Tax Examiner
How to Become a Tax Examiner
Tax Examiner Job Duties
Skills and Qualities of Tax Examiners
Tax Examiner Salaries
Influential Professionals in the Tax Examiner Field
Leading Organizations for Tax Examiners
Top Cities for Tax Examiner Jobs
Other Careers of Interest
How to become a Tax Examiner
Tax examination is a field crucial to the well-being of the treasury of the United States, as well as to businesses small and corporate alike. In fact, tax examiners are sometimes even employed by individuals. Because tax examiners permeate society, in other words, work at every level, tax examiners often enjoy both lucrative and secure careers.
So how does one become a tax examiner? As with many jobs, it starts with education. State and local governments may require nothing more than a high school diploma and specialized experience. The federal government will require at least a Bachelor's degree or a combination of college and experience. Those wishing to increase their attractiveness within the job market, or to work for private firms, may consider pursuing further education within accounting, auditing and tax compliance education and experience.
Often, those working as tax examiners must enjoy continuous learning, as tax laws are always able to change, and tax examiners need to stay ahead of the curve, so to speak.
So how does one become a tax examiner? As with many jobs, it starts with education. State and local governments may require nothing more than a high school diploma and specialized experience. The federal government will require at least a Bachelor's degree or a combination of college and experience. Those wishing to increase their attractiveness within the job market, or to work for private firms, may consider pursuing further education within accounting, auditing and tax compliance education and experience.
Often, those working as tax examiners must enjoy continuous learning, as tax laws are always able to change, and tax examiners need to stay ahead of the curve, so to speak.
What does a Tax Examiner do?
Depending on which facet of society or government tax examiners work with, they might complete any or all of the following tasks: reviewing filed tax returns for accuracy, determining credits and deductions as allowed by law and contacting taxpayers to resolve any issues by requesting supporting documentation.
Tax examiners working both in the public and private sector will review filed tax returns for accuracy. When it comes to taxes, there are a lot of ins and outs, a lot of specific rules and regulations. Tax examiners must be able to spot mistakes on a tax return so that steps can be taken to begin remedying the situation.
Tax examiners need to be familiar with tax law so that they can determine credits and deductions allowed on tax returns. This task is completed most frequently by tax examiners working for the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Often times, deductions and credits have specific stipulations that may either be unknown to the taxpayer or may simply indicate a mistake.
Tax examiners also work to resolve issues. Many times this means working with taxpayers and clients to collect supporting documentation that will make a situation clear or correct any errors found on the tax return. This task is typically completed by tax examiners working for the government or for corporations, however can be included in the job description of any tax examiner.
Tax examiners working both in the public and private sector will review filed tax returns for accuracy. When it comes to taxes, there are a lot of ins and outs, a lot of specific rules and regulations. Tax examiners must be able to spot mistakes on a tax return so that steps can be taken to begin remedying the situation.
Tax examiners need to be familiar with tax law so that they can determine credits and deductions allowed on tax returns. This task is completed most frequently by tax examiners working for the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Often times, deductions and credits have specific stipulations that may either be unknown to the taxpayer or may simply indicate a mistake.
Tax examiners also work to resolve issues. Many times this means working with taxpayers and clients to collect supporting documentation that will make a situation clear or correct any errors found on the tax return. This task is typically completed by tax examiners working for the government or for corporations, however can be included in the job description of any tax examiner.
What skills or qualities do I need to become a Tax Examiner?
One of the most prominent qualifications you'll need in order to become a tax examiner is a thorough and in-depth understanding of tax laws and regulations. This qualification is usually one you'll learn during your education and your job training, but requires constant education as regulations can change frequently. The ability to work with numbers and math is necessary for understanding filed tax returns. Furthermore, certain regulations have caps or ceilings at which point they apply or no longer apply, so being able to check taxpayers' math is imperative to examining a return.
Communication skills are imperative if you are to become a successful tax examiner. Though it may seem a more solitary position than some, you will likely have to employ interpersonal skills to work with team members or coworkers. Furthermore, you must be able to accurately communicate with taxpayers either over the phone or in writing.
Do different skills apply to different facets of this field? Of course, there will likely be some minor unique skills required by a specific governmental body or corporation, but overall, the skills described above are the three that are most necessary to success within this field.
Communication skills are imperative if you are to become a successful tax examiner. Though it may seem a more solitary position than some, you will likely have to employ interpersonal skills to work with team members or coworkers. Furthermore, you must be able to accurately communicate with taxpayers either over the phone or in writing.
Do different skills apply to different facets of this field? Of course, there will likely be some minor unique skills required by a specific governmental body or corporation, but overall, the skills described above are the three that are most necessary to success within this field.
How much does a Tax Examiner make?
According to salaries reported in October of 2008, those seeking a career in the field of tax examination can expect to make anywhere from $44,639 to $85,058 per annum. If that amount seems like a large range (roughly $40,000 between the minimum and maximum), consider that fifty percent of tax examiners make between $54,925 and $76,081 (this median range is half the size of the overall salary range). A tax examiner might expect to take home a biweekly paycheck amounting to roughly $1,873.97. Of course, that amount is an estimate based on the median salary for tax examiners in October of 2008, and includes the removal of taxes, both federal and state, as well as social security dues. Of course, the salary of tax examiners can vary based on local living costs as well as being based on the education and experience of the tax examiner in question.
Who are some influential professionals in this field?
The forty-seventh commissioner of Internal Revenue is Douglas Shulman, who formally worked with both FINRA (The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and NASD (National Association of Securities Dealers). Another influential professional of note is Steve Tait, who is currently the President of RSM McGladrey, and previously the Vice President of the Gartner Group.
What are some leading organizations in this field?
For those seeking a job as a tax examiner, the top organizations include RSM McGladrey, Jefferson Wells, JPS and CHW-St. Rose Dominican. Of course, if one is looking to work with the government, the most well known federal agency would be the Internal Revenue Service. Each state also has their own regulatory committees and agencies where tax examiners might find their ideal career environment.
What are the top cities for Tax Examiner jobs?
Those seeking a career in tax examination, once having completed the necessary educational requirements, will find concentrations of these jobs (within firms and corporations) in the following cities: Fort Worth, Minneapolis, San Antonio and Dallas. For those seeking to work for the Internal Revenue Service as a tax examiner, Washington D.C. would be an important city in which to begin one's search. Tax examiners seeking to work for local, in other words, state, governments should look within the capital city of the state for which they wish to work, in order to find the appropriate state agency.
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