How to Become a Tax Examiner

Recently, we wrote about what you can do after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and we explained why accounting is such a worthwhile degree.

In this article, we’ll explain how you can use your accounting degree to get a job as a tax examiner. 

This is an excellent job for accounting graduates who want to use the skills and knowledge they developed in their undergraduate studies, but who don’t necessarily want to become accountants. It’s also a field that’s quite competitive. 

In this article, we’ll explain how to increase your chances of launching a successful career as a tax examiner, while also covering why you should think about entering the industry, what you’ll be responsible for doing on the job, and which specific skills you’ll need to succeed in this challenging position.

After you’ve read about how to start a successful career as a tax examiner, fill out our information request form to receive additional details on our online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting program, which is the perfect way to start your path towards a successful career in this challenging industry. 

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Is Becoming a Tax Examiner Really a Good Career Option?

Yes, if you’re interested in accounting, you should consider a career as a tax examiner, as there are several benefits to pursuing a career in this field. 

Some of the most important reasons to consider becoming a tax examiner are:

1. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there will be 4,300 openings for tax examiners each year between 2021 and 2031, on average, due to the need to replace workers who exit the labor force or transfer to other occupations.
2. Tax examiners play a critical role in ensuring that the U.S. government remains funded, since their job is to review tax returns to determine how much should be paid, then collect those taxes on behalf of the government.
3. Professional tax examiners are paid relatively well, with the BLS reporting they earn an annual median income of $56,780 as of May 2021.

If you’re interested in accounting processes, but you don’t necessarily want to be an accountant, then this could be a perfect position for putting your accounting skills to use while doing something different.

What do Tax Examiners Actually Do?

Tax examiners work for the US government to determine how much individuals and organizations owe in taxes and then work to collect those taxes on the government’s behalf.

The general concept of a tax examiner’s job is straightforward, but the difficulty they face is in having to review taxes and tax liabilities for various people, businesses, and circumstances to ensure that the taxes are calculated correctly.

Some of the most important tasks required of task examiners include:

• Reviewing tax returns to ensure that all data provided is accurate.
• Determining if taxpayers have filed taxes correctly, properly following applicable tax rules, regulations, and laws.
• Providing filers with information about tax forms, including details on how to use and complete the forms accurately.
• Helping filers complete tax forms when they have problems doing it themselves.
• Determining if filers have paid enough taxes, or overpaid their taxes, then correcting any problems with the return.
• Advising filers on how to minimize their taxes using adjustments, deductions, and credits.

This may seem like a dry job, but it’s considered to be an excellent position for anyone who enjoys traditional accounting practices and who wants a well-paid position, and who doesn’t want to become an actual accountant.

It’s also widely regarded as an extremely stable job, considering the US government’s ongoing need to collect taxes, under a relatively complex tax code.

What Skills & Abilities are Needed to Become a Successful Tax Examiner?

This is not an easy role, as it requires a great deal of expertise and experience in both traditional accounting disciplines, as well as in niche skills and knowledge revolving around the US tax code.

To become a successful tax examiner, you’ll need to develop a series of important skills and abilities, including:

• Tax Return Skills – A tax examiner’s primary task is to understand all the laws and regulations regarding tax returns so that they can review tax returns and determine if they were completed properly. Familiarity with the process of filing taxes, tax codes, laws, and regulations will be of paramount importance here.
• Technical Assistance Skills – Tax examiners need to assist with the many different forms and systems provided to people filing their tax returns. Since part of the job involves providing customer support, tax examiners need good people skills, customer service skills, and technical skills.
• Critical Thinking Skills – The US tax code is incredibly complex and some processes or calculations are open to interpretation, an effective tax examiner needs to possess excellent critical thinking skills so he or she can determine whether or not people filing their taxes have done them properly.
• Financial Literacy Skills – Tax examiners need to have traditional accounting skills so they can conduct audits, review financial paperwork, understand complex financial processes, and implement the rules and regulations governing tax filing. Without strong financial literacy skills, they couldn’t do their job effectively.
• Attention to Detail – Because there’s so much involved in calculating a tax return, tax examiners need to be capable of paying close attention to detail, especially since they have to perform complex calculations without making any mistakes.

While you may not already have all of these skills, you can develop them by completing an accredited Bachelor’s Degree program in Accounting at CSU Global.

Our program will ensure that you’re prepared to deliver real value on each of the tasks above, while also improving your marketability for hiring managers looking to fill available jobs as a tax examiner.

Do I Really Need a Degree to Become a Tax Examiner

Yes, in their article on the role of tax examiners, tax collectors, and revenue agents, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) mentions that most of these professionals will need to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, or a related field.

The reason it’s so important that you get a degree in accounting before attempting to become a tax examiner is that the role requires a very strong foundation in traditional accounting best practices and processes.

BLS does mention that the level of education and experience varies across positions and employers, but your odds of getting a good job in the industry are sure to be higher after completing an accredited B.S. in the field.

If you’re serious about becoming a tax examiner, then you would be well-advised to complete your accounting degree before applying for available jobs.

How Will an Accounting Program Help Prepare Me for a Career as a Tax Examiner?

CSU Global’s B.S. in Accounting program will provide you with the foundational accounting knowledge, skills, and abilities you need to start a career as a tax examiner.

Our program was designed to provide you with critical skills you’ll need every day on the job, including:

• A general understanding of US tax laws and the ability to review complex financial documents like tax returns.
• The ability to prepare, analyze, and confirm the accuracy of all sorts of financial records.
• Best practices on organizing and maintaining complex financial records.

You’ll also receive instruction in traditional business best practices, including a comprehensive understanding of organizational management issues, like:

• Business intelligence
• Finance
• Legal compliance and ethics
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Economics
• Qualitative decision making

These abilities will help you to better understand the organizations, individuals, and businesses you may end up working with as a tax examiner, so you can determine whether or not their taxes are being completed correctly.

Remember that your job won’t be just to verify that tax returns were done correctly, but also to provide customer support to taxpayers with questions about their returns.

The better you understand modern business best practices, the better you’ll be able to answer questions about complex business strategies, functions, and relationships, so that you can provide better advice on tax-related issues.

Completing your degree in accounting with us will help ensure that you’re prepared to answer the sorts of complex questions you’re likely to receive each day as a tax examiner.

What Else Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Success?

If you’re serious about getting a job as a tax examiner, then you may want to consider going the extra mile and completing additional education programs in addition to your B.S. in Accounting.

Why? Because jobs with the IRS are quite competitive, and any roles in leadership or management are likely to require additional academic credentials.

If your career goals include securing a job in leadership, or at the management level, then you may want to consider completing CSU Global’s online Master’s program in Professional Accounting.

This program will provide you with even more detailed training on traditional accounting skills, refining your abilities there, while also developing your leadership and management skills.

To ensure you’re prepared for more senior roles, the M.S. in Accounting program includes instruction on advanced teamwork skills, planning skills, and communications skills, each of which will be useful to your daily duties as a tax examiner.

Keep in mind that completing a Master’s program is not likely to be required to get hired as an entry-level tax examiner, but that it could be useful for providing you with a more competitive resume, and in assisting with career advancement past entry-level positions.

Should I Get My Degree Online? 

Yes, whether you choose to just pursue a B.S. in Accounting, or you also want to complete a Master’s program, we recommend earning your academic credentials online.

Studying online provides several important benefits over traditional in-person programs, with the most compelling reason to consider online learning being that online programs offer more flexibility than in-person programs.

Choosing to study online with us at CSU Global means that you’ll get to take advantage of the many benefits that come with online studies, including:

• No requirements to show up at set times or in physical locations.
• Monthly class starts.
• Accelerated courses.

Our online programs have been developed to offer as much flexibility as possible, so if you have existing work or family responsibilities that you’ll have to continue completing in addition to your studies, then you should certainly think about getting your degree online with us.

Why Should I Choose to Study Accounting with CSU Global?

Our 100% online Accounting Degree program will provide you with everything you need for a successful, lifelong career as a tax examiner.

The program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ACBSP Accredited by the Council of Business Schools and Programs, and is endorsed by the Institute of Management Accountants. These prominent designations ensure that your degree will be respected by hiring managers looking for skilled tax examiners.

Our program is also widely thought of as being one of the best in the industry and was recently awarded several accounting program rankings, including:

• A #2 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Degrees by Great Business Schools.
• A #2 ranking for Best Online Accounting Degrees from College Choice.

90% of the program’s graduates report working in the field, with three of the top job titles for being accountant, bookkeeper, and staff accountant. Our graduates also report excellent salaries, with an average estimated starting salary of $67,310.

CSU Global itself is also seen as an industry leader in higher education, and we recently won several excellent awards to prove our value, including:

• A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
• A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.
• A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.

Finally, we offer all of our students affordable tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee that promises your low tuition rate won’t increase for as long as you remain enrolled as a student with us.

To get additional details about our fully-accredited online Degree in Accounting, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!