Tax Examiner - myFootpath

Tax Examiner Basics
Tax examiners are the people at the front line between you and your tax dollars. It is a tax examiner’s job to go through the tax forms you send in before every April 15th to make sure they are correct. Mainly this means checking the taxpayer’s math and that claimed deductions and refunds are legitimate.

Tax examiners will use the financial information presented on the tax forms as well as any information they can find through public records to make their decisions. If the situation calls for it, they may even contact the taxpayer to ask questions. Once all information is collected and the form processed, it is up to the tax examiner to either issue a refund or send notice that taxes are owed, whatever the case may be.

Understandably, tax examiners spend much of their time inputting records into computer databases and are most busy in the lead up to tax deadlines.

How to get an Accounting Degree
Most tax examiners have a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or some related field. To work for the federal government, one must have a Bachelor’s degree or one year full-time experience working with financials in some form or fashion. All tax examiners can expect to go through training, possibly lasting weeks, once hired.

Featured Online Schools for an Accounting Degree:

• Colorado Technical University – Request Information
• Kaplan University – Request Information
• South University – Request Information
• Virginia College – Request Information
  

Featured Campus Schools for an Accounting Degree:

• Rasmussen College – Request Information
• South University – Request Information
  

Compatible Personality Traits
Excellent analytic skills, excellent computer skills, strong communication skills, eye for detail, diligent, focused, willing to work long or odd hours on occasion, trustworthy.

Salary Expectations for a Tax Examiner
The average salary for tax examiners is $48,100 a year, with the middle fifty percent earning between $36,590 and $66,730. With more experience, a tax examiner may be able to move up into management positions and earn a higher salary.

All government tax examiners can expect to receive vacation and sick days, retirement plans, and health insurance as part of their employment package.

Job Outlook for a Tax Examiner
The job outlook for tax examiners is mixed. On the one hand, new examiners will be needed to replace those who are retiring and to increase the ranks as the population grows. On the other hand, computers are able to automate much of what tax examiners do.

Tax examiners with the most experience and who are able to move up into positions of more responsibility are the most likely to find steady employment.

Slightly off the Footpath
Revenue Agent
Personal Financial Advisor
Financial Analyst
Accountant

Source: bls.gov/oco/ocos260.htm