A student going into the accounting field might wonder what jobs are available at the Internal Revenue Service, commonly known as the IRS. The IRS employs a wide variety of tax professionals as well as other workers at the federal level. Here are just a few of the job titles common at the IRS.
Tax Examining Technician
Much of the tax process is automated now. For this reason, the IRS needs technicians who keep their systems functioning normally. These technicians are responsible for reviewing cases and returns that appear suspicious. They also ensure the normal processing and approval of tax returns. They must be intimately familiar with tax code to program the systems correctly, as well as troubleshoot them when something is going wrong. The IRS hires both regular and supervisor positions for this role. Supervisors are responsible for communicating with taxpayers about delinquencies, notices they have received and adjusting their accounts accordingly.
Auditor
IRS auditors, officially known as Internal Revenue Officers per the IRS, perform audits on individuals, corporations and organizations if abnormalities or concerns are present upon reviewing a tax return. The job of an auditor is vibrant because they largely work on a case-by-case basis and no two cases are alike. They work with individuals and organizations to correct errors in their tax returns and uncover whether someone is participating in tax fraud. They may work with law enforcement if criminal activity was committed. Once the audit is complete, they work with taxpayers to process a correct tax return and educate them on how to avoid similar issues in the future. They might set up payment plans for taxpayers to pay their owed amount over time or even grant relief in certain circumstances.
Tax Attorney
The IRS is occasionally involved in legal action with taxpayers and organizations for a wide variety of reasons and occurrences. Because of this, the IRS retains tax attorneys on staff to manage the legal side of taxation. They may be consulted about pensions, inheritance, business taxes and other tax law subjects. Tax attorneys need to be constantly up-to-date on the tax code and be able to give sound legal advice. The IRS also hires legal assistants. Legal assistants provide support to tax attorneys by drafting legal documents, performing interviews, supporting tax attorneys during trial and other similar duties. Because they are not attorneys they cannot give legal advice, however.
Administrative Positions
Like most other organizations, the IRS has need of administrative professionals. Mail clerks, administrative assistants, data transcribers and others fall under this category. They work in IRS facilities across the country to support IRS operations and other personnel. They may be responsible for filing, answering phones, doing data entry, sorting mail, sending out mail, scheduling meetings and other regular office tasks. An understanding of tax terms and processes will help someone in securing a job in administration at the Internal Revenue Service. For example, data transcribers look at incoming tax documents and possibly alter them to match the required format.
Conclusion
Many accounting professionals go on to have careers in the IRS. As the largest tax organization in the country, the IRS has need of many different accounting professionals in different regions and different divisions. The Internal Revenue Service is a significant organization where accounting professionals can find work, especially during tax season.
Related Resources:
- Top 25 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Accounting
- What Jobs are Available at the IRS?
- 5 Benefits to Working at the IRS
- 5 In-Demand Jobs in the IRS
- What is the Process to get Hired at the IRS?
