How to Get a Job As a Tax Compliance Officer With the IRS

One of the requirements for getting a job as a tax compliance officer with the IRS is fingerprinting.

Enter an exciting career as a tax compliance officer. A tax compliance officer with the IRS is responsible for conducting investigations and examinations of taxpayers to determine Federal tax liability. In order to become a tax compliance officer, certain qualifications and requirements must be met. College education, passing IRS assessments, background checks, and fingerprinting are some of these requirements.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet

Instructions

Requirements and Qualifications

1. Meet education requirements in accounting. All tax compliance officer applicants must possess knowledge of the Principles of Accounting. Additionally, applicants must have demonstrated this by having completed a minimum of six college credit hours of accounting. Alternatively, the applicant can take and pass an administered accounting assessment.

2. Meet additional educational requirements. Depending on the tax compliance grade level you are applying for, various educational requirements may apply. The minimum requirements to enter a career as a tax compliance officers is possessing one of the following: Bachelor's degree, at least four years of college courses, be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), three years of general experience in related work, or a combination of education and experience that equals four years.

3. Meet additional job requirements. Prior to employment, applicants are required to submit fingerprint cards, a background check, and two forms of proper identification. Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury may perform a post-employment tax audit in addition to an income tax verification. The applicant is also required to posses a valid U.S. driver's license, and be a U.S. citizen.

Applying

1. Search IRS tax compliance officer positions. Visit irs.gov, scroll to the bottom and click on "Careers." Next, click on "Search/Apply for Jobs," scroll down and click on "Search for IRS Openings." You are now on the USAJobs Internal Revenue Service job page. Scroll down to "Keyword Search" and type in "tax compliance officer," then click on "Search for Jobs." A list of current openings appears.

2. Apply to become an IRS tax compliance officer. Upon completing the above instructions, click on the position you are interested in, click on "How to Apply." The IRS requires applicants to become a member of USAJobs, and create a resume. Additionally, you are required to complete an application that consists of approximately 31 questions. Prior to being directed to the online application, you may be required to upload and submit documentation such as college transcripts. Be sure you submit a complete application; incomplete application packages are not considered.

3. Know requirements after application. If you are qualified for the position, you are required to take a Tax Compliance Officer Self Assessment. The assessment includes mathematical reasoning, self-management, technology application, conflict management, principles of accounting, decision making, integrity and honesty, influencing and negotiating, interpersonal skills, oral communication, planning and evaluating, problem solving, and stress tolerance. This assessment is done online, and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Upon passing, you must then take an online job simulation that takes approximately one hour to complete. Upon passing that, you are eligible for an interview.

4. Receiving additional training. If the interview is passed, and you are selected, additional training is mandatory. The training consists of: one week of orientation; ten weeks of classroom training and 40 weeks of on-the-job training.

Tips & Warnings

• Communication is done by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid e-mail address.

References

• IRS: IRS Careers