Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-2081
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
• Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.
• Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.
• Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
• Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
• Answer questions from taxpayers and assist them in completing tax forms.
• Collect taxes from individuals or businesses according to prescribed laws and regulations.
• Determine appropriate methods of debt settlement, such as offers of compromise, wage garnishment, or seizure and sale of property.
• Check tax forms to verify that names and taxpayer identification numbers are correct, that computations have been performed correctly, or that amounts match those on supporting documentation.
• Examine and analyze tax assets and liabilities to determine resolution of delinquent tax problems.
• Impose payment deadlines on delinquent taxpayers and monitor payments to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Direct service of legal documents, such as subpoenas, warrants, notices of assessment, and garnishments.

Tools and technology

Alteryx software, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Tax compliance property tax management software, Tax software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Tax Preparers
• Accountants and Auditors
• Bill and Account Collectors
• Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
• Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
• Billing and Posting Clerks
• Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.