Business & Finance
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
Also called: City Tax Auditor, Collections Specialist, Revenue Agent, Revenue Collector
US median pay
$62,370
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-1%
declining
Openings a year (US)
4,400
60,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
What they do day to day
- Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
- Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.
- Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.
- Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
- Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
- Answer questions from taxpayers and assist them in completing tax forms.
- Collect taxes from individuals or businesses according to prescribed laws and regulations.
- Determine appropriate methods of debt settlement, such as offers of compromise, wage garnishment, or seizure and sale of property.
- Check tax forms to verify that names and taxpayer identification numbers are correct, that computations have been performed correctly, or that amounts match those on supporting documentation.
- Examine and analyze tax assets and liabilities to determine resolution of delinquent tax problems.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Negotiation3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Service Orientation2.9/5
- Persuasion2.9/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Mathematics3.9/5
- Administrative3.9/5
- Law and Government3.7/5
- Economics and Accounting3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree34%
- Associate's degree26%
- High school diploma23%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.