How to Become a Tax Examiner
As one might expect, a tax examiner plays a pivotal role in federal and state government agencies, and as such, must exemplify excellence in preparedness through education, knowledge and mastery of relevant regulations and laws, as well as have the necessary skills and experience to operate effectively within those environments.
Education For Tax Examiners
Get a Bachelor’s Degree and/or a Master’s degree
If you have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, begin immediately to find a college to meet your needs, so you can begin your journey of becoming a successful tax examiner. Make sure to investigate the institutions carefully to ascertain their reputations. Research thoroughly, and make sure they are an accredited college or university. Read reviews as to their suitability for your goals. Online programs are available from some of the most respected colleges and universities, and of course, there are traditional on-campus options. If you cannot financially afford to attend a four-year program initially, consider attending a junior or community college to satisfy your general education requirements. One important thing to remember—make sure your credits from the junior or community college will transfer to the 4-year college you are interested in eventually attending. Also, many colleges offer fast-track programs where you can earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree concurrently. These programs are well worth your consideration. A master’s degree will bump you to the front of the line when competing within the job market.
Consider These Degrees For Tax Examiner Positions
The ideal degree(s) would be to either major in accounting and minor or have an emphasis in taxation. If this combination is not offered, consider double majoring (doing the upper-class coursework for two separate degrees) combining a BA in Accounting with a BA in Analytics or Statistics. Note that the same suggestion holds true for all the following degrees–either a dual major or a major/minor situation is ideal.
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a Concentration in Taxation
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Concentration in Accounting or Taxation
- Bachelor of Science in Finance with a Concentration in Accounting or Taxation
- Bachelor of Science in Economics with a Concentration in Accounting or Taxation
Quite naturally, the main bachelor’s degree of which you will want to aspire is accounting. The accounting degree will give you a strong foundation in financial principles, taxation, auditing, and accounting practices. Programs also include courses such as income tax law, tax accounting, auditing, and financial reporting.
With a dual degree or major/minor in business administration and accounting or taxation, you will be extremely well-equipped to market yourself within the corporate business model. The degree will give you both the basics of the business world, as well as courses in accounting principles and tax regulations. Programs typically offer classes in taxation, financial accounting, managerial accounting and business law.
Combining finance and accounting gives you all the benefits of an accounting degree, as well as providing knowledge of financial markets, investments, and financial analysis. Other typical curricula include taxation, financial management, and corporate finance.
All the abovementioned accounting courses will apply to this degree, combined with units in understanding economic systems, policies and principles. Additionally, this degree will prepare you for becoming the best tax examiner possible by honing your problem-solving and analytical skills, as they would apply to tax examining scenarios.
Learn the Ropes and Keep Current Via Trade Associations and Professional Organizations
There cannot be enough said about the value of becoming familiar with and eventually joining a trade association or professional organization. These entities offer a plethora of opportunities in education, certification, networking, and mentorship, just to name a few. They also are the source for internships, as well as a resource for job postings. Although these groups may only offer membership to those already practicing in the field, there is still a wealth of public information found on their websites. Here are two examples of them to investigate, with a brief description of what they offer, in their own words.
- Association of Government Accountants (AGA)
- National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)
“AGA is the association that connects and empowers professionals who support government, from financial management to IT, human resources, cybersecurity and more, to advance good government initiatives, grow their expertise and accelerate their careers. AGA is made up of more than 14,000 members, including senior executives, mid-level managers, entry-level employees, elected officials, professors and students. Our members work in government financial management disciplines, including accounting, auditing, budgeting, financial reporting, human resources, performance reporting, grants management, contract management information systems and more.”
“NATP offers resources, education, and support for tax professionals, including tax examiners, tax preparers, and enrolled agents. NATP members are industry leaders who hold an exceptional understanding of how to apply the federal tax code to their clients’ unique situations. As tax laws change, you can rely on NATP to provide you with the updates, alerts and education you need to stay at the top of your professional expertise.”
Gain Vital Experience by Completing an Internship
The optimum method of gaining inestimable experience is through securing and completing an internship. Internships not only teach vital lessons through boots-on-the-ground experience, but they will also give you the opportunity to secure future employment. Many programs are done during the summer, for a period of 6-10 weeks, and are geared towards those who are still working on their bachelor’s degree, or those who have just graduated. In the next section we will discuss where you can see the internships available, but here are the main entities which offer these valuable experiences.
- Government Agencies
- Accounting Firms
- Tax Preparation Companies
- Financial Institutions
Agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), state tax departments, and local tax authorities often offer internships.
Many accounting firms, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and KPMG, offer internships in tax services. These internships may involve assisting with tax preparation, research, and compliance activities.
Companies which offer tax preparation often have internships (H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt).
You will be pleasantly surprised how many banks, investment firms, and financial institutions offer internships in tax departments. Skills and experience will be in the areas of assisting with tax reporting, compliance, and planning for individuals or businesses.
Job Outlook For Tax Examiners
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/), Tax Examiners will enter a highly competitive job market for the time period spanning 2022-2032. The field is growing by 1% per year, which is far lower than the 6% average growth rate. Over the ten-year time span (2022-2032) it is projected that a total of 300 new positions will be created. However, government experts predict that in spite of the limited employment growth, each year over 4,100 openings will become available (between 2022-2032), due to replacing workers who leave the profession, leave the work force and/or retire. In 2022 there were 55,000 individuals working as tax examiners. The median pay per year was $57,950, while the median hourly wage was $27.86. (As a reminder, the “median” amount is not an average, it is the middle value of a dataset. For the U.S. BLS definition go to: https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm#medianearnings) .
But you can be assured that if you rigorously pursue your education at a respected institution, participate in an internship, become certified in accordance with any applicable state and federal regulations, you will be on your way to a successful career as a tax examiner.
