Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents: Job Description
Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
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What Tasks Do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents include:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Adjustment Examiner
- Block Advisor
- City Collector
- City Tax Auditor
- Collections Specialist
- Collector
- Corporate Tax Associate
- Credentialed Tax Expert
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 558,993 tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -0.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $77,212 |
| Hourly median | $37.12 |
| 10th percentile | $42,671 |
| 25th percentile | $59,941 |
| 75th percentile | $94,483 |
| 90th percentile | $111,754 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $98,220 |
| New Jersey | $89,030 |
| Arizona | $88,520 |
| Connecticut | $80,380 |
| Kansas | $78,580 |
| Illinois | $75,150 |
| North Dakota | $72,550 |
| Washington | $72,520 |
| California | $72,390 |
| Massachusetts | $71,990 |
| Ohio | $71,860 |
| New York | $71,030 |
| Rhode Island | $69,280 |
| Hawaii | $68,810 |
| Delaware | $68,600 |
| Nevada | $65,790 |
| Idaho | $65,730 |
| Minnesota | $65,250 |
| Iowa | $65,240 |
| Oregon | $64,730 |
| Colorado | $64,730 |
| Maryland | $62,490 |
| Montana | $62,420 |
| Wyoming | $61,780 |
| Vermont | $60,720 |
| North Carolina | $59,820 |
| Maine | $59,370 |
| Michigan | $59,160 |
| New Hampshire | $58,950 |
| South Carolina | $58,410 |
| Wisconsin | $58,260 |
| Nebraska | $56,550 |
| Virginia | $56,460 |
| Texas | $55,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,740 |
| Arkansas | $55,700 |
| New Mexico | $55,350 |
| Indiana | $54,810 |
| Kentucky | $54,540 |
| Alabama | $52,470 |
| Georgia | $52,450 |
| Tennessee | $49,000 |
| Utah | $48,530 |
| Louisiana | $47,790 |
| Missouri | $47,780 |
| West Virginia | $45,910 |
| Florida | $45,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,030 |
| Mississippi | $39,010 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $72,032 | 18.3% | 1.18 |
| New England | $70,959 | 5.6% | 1.19 |
| Middle Atlantic | $67,542 | 16.8% | 1.22 |
| Great Lakes | $66,431 | 8.1% | 0.57 |
| Southwest | $57,742 | 7.4% | 0.70 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,210 | 7.8% | 4.28 |
| Plains States | $52,128 | 5.5% | 1.70 |
| Southeast | $50,686 | 29.6% | 1.30 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | CA | $108,570 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $108,450 | 410 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $108,370 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | CA | $108,240 | 50 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $105,580 | 50 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $100,280 | 470 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | NY | $98,490 | 100 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $98,220 | 50 |
Software Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents Use
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Alteryx software (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Business intelligence and data analysis software: Microsoft Power BI (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
- Compliance software: Tax compliance property tax management software (in demand)
- Accounting software: Tax software (in demand)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents reflects the following characteristics:
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Sitting
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (Supplemental)
- Compliance Officers (Supplemental)
- Accountants and Auditors (Primary-Short)
- Budget Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Credit Analysts (Supplemental)
- Personal Financial Advisors (Supplemental)
- Financial Examiners (Primary-Long)
- Credit Counselors (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 13-2081.00 (Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents).
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