Tax Examiner Career Overview

According to a familiar adage, only two things are truly inevitable in life: death and taxes. When individuals and business entities file their taxes, someone needs to receive them, verify their accuracy and update the taxpayer’s records. This role is crucial to the success of any tax-collecting agency and may be an appealing career choice for those who enjoy numbers and have a background in accounting.

What is the job description of a tax examiner, exactly, and what are the steps needed to prepare for success in this field? Take a closer look at this job, one of many options available to those who have earned an accounting degree.

What Is a Tax Examiner?

A tax examiner is an accounting professional tasked with evaluating tax returns when they are submitted and verifying that the taxpayers have completed them correctly. A tax examiner may review the deductions and tax credits claimed on a return, ensuring that the taxpayer has applied them correctly, while also vouching for the return’s overall accuracy. Examiners may also take note of any errors they find, reporting them to the pertinent tax agencies.

Where Do Tax Examiners Work?

Generally speaking, tax examiners work for government agencies, as those are the organizations responsible for collecting and recording taxes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 43% of professionals in this field work for the federal government, 38% work for state governments and 19% work for local governments.

Tax Examiner Job Description

Tax examiners’ specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on their position, but they typically include the following:

• Reviewing tax returns to ensure that all credits and deductions applied are lawful

• Contacting taxpayers to address concerns or to ask for additional documentation

• Notifying appropriate government agencies about errors or mispayments

• Notifying taxpayers about any under- or overpayments

Tax Examiner Salary and Job Outlook

For accounting professionals and future professionals who have an interest in this role, it is understandable to have some questions about the position’s salary and job outlook. BLS data as of 2023 offers insight into both.

Salary

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for tax examiners is $58,530. A number of factors can affect an individual tax examiner’s actual salary, including their years of experience and level of education. Those who work for the federal government tend to make higher salaries than those employed at the state or local level. In fact, the median annual salary for federal examiners is $60,690.

Job Outlook

Employment of tax examiners is projected to grow 2% from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS. This equates to around 4,100 new openings each year during that time period.

How to Become a Tax Examiner

Those interested in pursuing this role need to invest in the right kind of training and professional development to gain the right technical skills and core competencies.

Educational Requirements

The majority of tax examiner jobs require an education, which usually means getting a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Earning this degree helps ensure individuals are equipped with the financial acumen needed for success working in the tax field.

Earning a more advanced degree is seldom needed, though in some cases a graduate degree in accounting may lead to higher salaries or to positions of greater responsibility.

Training Requirements

Those who choose this role can expect to receive anywhere from one to six months of on-the-job training. Ongoing continuing education also is needed to stay up to date on the latest changes to the tax code and tax collection protocols.

Essential Skills

Through this combination of classroom learning and on-the-job training, aspiring examiners can cultivate the necessary set of skills. The competencies most needed for success in this field include an eye for detail, knowledge of tax regulations, financial acumen and effective time management skills. Having strong customer service skills can also be a plus.

Choose a Path as a Tax Examiner

Tax collection is not always a popular topic, yet it is an essential function at every level of government, ensuring the government’s programming and infrastructure are appropriately funded. One way to be a part of this important work while employing accounting skills is to become a tax examiner.

To prepare for this job, consider enrolling in App State Online’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting program. This program helps students gain both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need to succeed in any of a range of accounting professions, including roles in tax examination. The program also allows for some flexibility, making it easy to learn while working a part-time or even a full-time job.

Explore the accounting degree path today, and prepare to make a long-term impact as a tax examiner.

Recommended Readings

Most Important Skills Needed for Accounting

Sources:

Indeed, “3 Accounting Career Pathways: Duties and Considerations”

Indeed, “Accounting Career Paths and How to Choose Them (With Roles)”

Indeed, “A Look at Accounting Careers”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

ZipRecruiter, What Is a Tax Examiner and How to Become One