How To Become An Internal Revenue Agent: What It Is and Career Path

What is an internal revenue agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An internal revenue agent is mainly responsible for examining and analyzing individual and enterprise budgetary records. This is done to ensure conformity with tax payments and rules. Your work usually focuses on contacting customers via correspondence and phone calls. You will be required to organize appointments and handle tax payments as well.

Furthermore, you will have to travel to various areas for the collation and evaluation of documents. In some cases, while working as an internal revenue agent, you must explain to and assist taxpayers in comprehending the tax regulations. Also, you will need to give advice when required, plan and carry out onsite analysis, and keep a solid working relationship with clients. You will often have to operate with taxpayers' attorneys, representatives, or even their legalized public accountants. All these you must do under the rules and regulations of the government.

You must be extremely detail-oriented and possess great evaluation, computer, and organization skills. Also, you either need a bachelor's or master's degree in finance or accounting for the job. As an internal revenue agent in the United States, you will earn an average of $120,420 or $57.89 hourly.

ScoreInternal Revenue AgentUS Average

Salary

5.6

Avg. Salary $71,853

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.6

Growth rate -7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.22%

Asian 10.29%

Black or African American 12.99%

Hispanic or Latino 17.04%

Unknown 3.34%

White 56.11%

Gender

female 40.66%

male 59.34%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress level

8.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an internal revenue agent

Explore internal revenue agent education requirements

Most common internal revenue agent degrees

Bachelor's

76.1 %

Master's

13.9 %

Associate

5.9 %

Start to develop specific internal revenue agent skills

Skills	Percentages
Partnerships	22.71%
CPA	17.80%
IRS	14.74%
Financial Transactions	12.60%
Income Tax Returns	8.73%

Complete relevant internal revenue agent training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New internal revenue agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an internal revenue agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real internal revenue agent resumes.

Research internal revenue agent duties and responsibilities

Manage teams of cooperating agents from areas such as international taxation, employment tax, and economists when conducting tax audits.
Utilize computer technology to access legal bulletins, IRS notices, and tax-relate court decisions.
Conduct workshops on occasion in specific areas of the tax law and regarding IRS procedures.
Negotiate with CPA's and attorneys to settle and close audits and assess deficiencies and refunds.

Prepare your internal revenue agent resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your internal revenue agent resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an internal revenue agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable internal revenue agent resume templates

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