The Tax Examiner determines tax liability or collects taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
Tasks for Tax Examiners
- The Tax Examiner collects taxes from individuals or businesses according to prescribed laws and regulations.
- The Tax Examiner maintains knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial information.
- The Tax Examiner maintains records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
- The Tax Examiner confers with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.
- The Tax Examiner contacts taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
- The Tax Examiner sends notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
- The Tax Examiner notifies taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment either issues a refund or request further payment.
- The Tax Examiner conducts independent field audits and investigations of income tax returns to verify information or to amend tax liabilities.
- The Tax Examiner reviews filed tax returns to determine whether claimed tax credits and deductions are allowed by law.
- The Tax Examiner reviews selected tax returns to determine the nature and extent of audits to be performed on them.
Knowledge requirements for Tax Examiners
The Tax Examiner needs knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. The Tax Examiner needs knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. The Tax Examiner needs knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules, of composition, and grammar. The Tax Examiner needs knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. The Tax Examiner needs knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. The Tax Examiner needs knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Work Activities for Tax Examiners
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards- The Tax Examiner uses relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Getting Information- The Tax Examiner observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organizations- The Tax Examiner communicates 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- The Tax Examiner provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Updating and using Relevant Knowledge – The Tax Examiner must keep up to date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Analyzing Data or Information- The Tax Examiner identifies the underlying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. They also must identify the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events- The Tax Examiner must identify information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Interacting with Computers- The Tax Examiner uses computers and computer systems including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work- The Tax Examiner develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Documenting/Recording Information- The Tax Examiner enters, transcribes, records, stores, or maintains information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Complex Problem Solving- The Tax Examiner identifies complex problems and reviews related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Critical Thinking- The Tax Examiner uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Often he must use arithmetic to solve many of the problems that are involved with dealing with customers.