Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agentsTaxes are one of the certainties of life. And, as long as governments collect taxes, there will be jobs for tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents. These workers ensure that governments obtain revenues from businesses and citizens by reviewing tax returns, conducting audits, identifying taxes payable, and collecting overdue tax dollars. Tax examiners do similar work, whether they are employed at the Federal, State, or local government level. They review filed tax returns for accuracy and determine whether tax credits and deductions are allowed by law. Because many States assess individual income taxes based on the taxpayer�s reported Federal adjusted gross income, tax examiners working for the Federal Government report to the States adjustments or corrections they make. State tax examiners then determine whether the adjustments affect the taxpayer�s State tax liability. At the local level, tax examiners often have additional duties, but an integral part of the work still includes the need to determine the factual basis for claims for refunds. Tax examiners usually deal with the simplest tax returns—those filed by individual taxpayers with few deductions or those filed by small businesses. At the entry level, many tax examiners perform clerical duties, such as reviewing tax returns and entering them into a computer system for processing. If there is a problem, tax examiners may contact the taxpayer to resolve it. Tax examiners also review returns for accuracy, checking taxpayers� math and making sure that the amounts that they report match those reported from other sources, such as employers and banks. In addition, the examiners verify that Social Security numbers match names and that taxpayers have correctly interpreted the instructions on the tax forms. Much of a tax examiner�s job involves making sure that tax credits and deductions claimed by taxpayers are legitimate. Tax examiners contact the taxpayer by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and request supporting documentation. They may notify the taxpayer of any overpayment or underpayment and either issue a refund or request further payment. If a taxpayer owes additional taxes, tax examiners adjust the total amount by assessing fees, interest, and penalties and notify the taxpayer of the total liability. Although most tax examiners deal with uncomplicated returns, some may work in more complex tax areas such as pensions or business net-operating losses. Revenue agents specialize in tax-related accounting work for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and for equivalent agencies at the State and local government levels. Like tax examiners, they audit returns for accuracy. However, revenue agents handle complicated income, sales, and excise tax returns of businesses and large corporations. As a result, their work differs in a number of ways from that of tax examiners. Entry-level revenue agents at the Federal level usually audit tax returns of small businesses whose market specializations are similar. As they develop expertise in an industry, such as construction, retail sales, or finance, insurance, and real estate, revenue agents work with tax returns of larger corporations. Many experienced revenue agents specialize; for example, they may focus exclusively on multinational businesses. But all revenue agents working for the Federal Government must keep abreast of the lengthy, complex, and frequently changing tax code. Computer technology has simplified the research process, allowing revenue agents Internet access to relevant legal bulletins, IRS notices, and tax-related court decisions. At the State level, revenue agents have duties similar to those of their counterparts in the Federal Government. State revenue agents use revenue adjustment reports forwarded by the IRS to determine whether adjustments made by Federal revenue agents affect a taxpayer�s taxable income in the eyes of the States. In addition, State agents consider the sales and income taxes for their own States. At the local level, revenue agents have varying titles and duties, but they still perform field audits or office audits of financial records for business firms. In some cases, local revenue agents also examine financial records of individuals. These local agents, like their State counterparts, rely on the information contained in Federal tax returns. However, local agents also must be knowledgeable enough to apply local tax laws regarding income, utility fees, or school taxes. Collectors, also called revenue officers in the IRS, deal with delinquent accounts. The process of collecting a delinquent account starts with the revenue agent or tax examiner sending a report to the taxpayer. If the taxpayer makes no effort to resolve the delinquent account, the case is assigned to a collector. When a collector takes a case, he or she first sends the taxpayer a notice. The collector then works with the taxpayer on how to settle the debt. In cases in which taxpayers fail to file a tax return, Federal collectors may request that the IRS prepare the return on a taxpayer�s behalf. In other instances, collectors are responsible for verifying claims that delinquent taxpayers cannot pay their taxes. They investigate these claims by researching court information for the status of liens, mortgages, or financial statements; locating assets through third parties, such as neighbors or local departments of motor vehicles; and requesting legal summonses for other records. Ultimately, collectors must decide whether the IRS should take a lien, or a claim on an asset—such as a bank account, real estate, or an automobile—to settle a debt. Collectors also have the discretion to garnish wages—that is, take a portion of earned wages—to collect owed taxes. A big part of a collector�s job at the Federal level is imposing and following up on delinquent taxpayers� payment deadlines. For each case file, collectors also must maintain records including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken. Like tax examiners and revenue agents, collectors use computers to maintain files. Computer technology also gives collectors data access to help them identify high-risk debtors—those who are unlikely to pay or are likely to flee. Collectors at the IRS usually work independently. However, they call on experts when tax examiners or revenue agents find fraudulent returns, or when a property seizure will involve complex legal steps. At the State level, collectors decide whether to take action on the basis of their own States� tax returns. Collection work may be handled over the telephone or be turned over to a collector who specializes in obtaining settlements. These collectors contact people directly and have authority to issue subpoenas and request seizures of property. At the local levels, collectors have less power than do their State and Federal counterparts. Although they can start the processes leading to seizure of property and garnishment of wages, they must go through the local court system. Related news articles Kentucky deaths - Oct 10, 2006 Kentucky Post,Home in Elsmere. She was a corporate tax examiner and later a statistician for the Internal Revenue Service in Covington. Mrs. Best ... Clifton Park Dems make leadership changes - Oct 5, 2006 Community News Weekly,Charles Bellamy is a retired income tax examiner with the New York State Tax Department. He has been the treasurer of the local party since 1989. ... More information on Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents occupation Number of Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents Working conditions for Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents Significant points for Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents Training requirements for Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |