How to hire a tax examiner

How to hire a tax examiner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tax examiner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a tax examiner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tax examiner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a tax examiner job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a tax examiner, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A tax examiner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, tax examiners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents tax examiner salaries for various positions.

   Type of Tax Examiner	Description	Hourly rate
   Tax Examiner	Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents ensure that federal, state, and local governments get their tax money from businesses and citizens. They review tax returns, conduct audits, identify taxes owed, and collect overdue tax payments.	$14-30
   Revenue Agent	A revenue agent typically works for government agencies where they are in charge of ensuring that businesses and citizens comply with their tax obligations. Their responsibilities include performing field audits and assessments, gathering and analyzing data, reviewing documents and procedures, and investigating tax delinquencies in adherence to the state and federal laws and regulations... Show more	$11-27
   Internal Revenue Agent	An internal revenue agent is primarily in charge of auditing and examining businesses' and individuals' financial records to ensure compliance with tax laws and payments. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, traveling to different locations, gathering and reviewing documentation, and even processing tax payments... Show more	$15-77

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Business Tax Returns
   • Tax Accounts
   • Technical Assistance
   • Income Tax Returns
   • Sound Judgment
   • Corrective Action
   • IRS
   • Tax Credit
   • Tax Issues
   • Tax Liability
   • Account Adjustments
   • Delinquent Accounts
   • Computer System
   • Taxation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Train new hires by performing OJT.
   • Supervise for AML policies, complaint resolution.
   • Complete client month end close checklist and treasury adjustment analysis and resolution.
   • Assist in development of regulations and DOR publications regarding the estate tax.
   • Collect facts from appeals to decide if participants have resolved their financial or criminal issues.
   • Create new procedures, policies and directives and provide both classroom and OJT instruction to team.

   More tax examiner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tax examiner job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A tax examiner salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a tax examiner in Maryland may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level tax examiner usually earns less than a senior-level tax examiner. Additionally, a tax examiner with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average tax examiner salary

   $44,886yearly

   $21.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tax examiner salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average tax examiner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$56,528	$27
   2	Washington	$52,944	$25
   3	Massachusetts	$51,323	$25
   4	Colorado	$45,527	$22
   5	Ohio	$45,309	$22
   6	Hawaii	$40,778	$20
   7	Pennsylvania	$40,489	$19
   8	Montana	$40,287	$19
   9	Wyoming	$40,186	$19
   10	Utah	$37,617	$18
   11	Georgia	$35,081	$17
   12	South Carolina	$34,599	$17

   Average tax examiner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pwc	$54,703	$26.30	1,610
   2	Washington State University	$49,925	$24.00
   3	Internal Revenue Service	$49,695	$23.89
   4	Colorado State Express	$47,063	$22.63
   5	Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP	$47,063	$22.63
   6	ManpowerGroup	$42,173	$20.28	38
   7	Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania	$40,964	$19.69
   8	State of West Virginia	$38,814	$18.66	9
   9	Maine	$38,375	$18.45	5
   10	Wyoming	$35,686	$17.16	5
   11	State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia	$33,998	$16.35	3
   12	S.C. Department of Commerce	$33,924	$16.31
   13	State Of Montana	$33,788	$16.24	1
   14	State of Ohio	$33,245	$15.98	4
   15	Georgia Department of Education	$30,809	$14.81

4. Writing a tax examiner job description

   A tax examiner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a tax examiner job description:

   Tax examiner job description example

   JOB SUMMARY: Reporting to the Director of Customer service. The Tax Examiner V, performs a variety of property tax research functions as assigned by the Director.
   Prepare periodic operational reports for management review.
   Preform research on more complex inquiries.
   Provide accurate information derived from a variety of records on taxes, legal property descriptions, tax sale, and other matters of major importance in tax projects many of which involve complicated and extensive examining, searching, recording, computing and reporting activities.
   Works in concert with other county offices in order to exchange knowledge and/or obtain information pertaining to taxpayer enquiries.
   Research and produce requests for images relating to real estate property taxes.
   Maintain County records by creating forms to correct application of real estate property tax payments.
   Maintain County records by updating taxpayer information such as mailing address, correspondence information, enquiry form status, etc.
   Assist in Customer Service, Cashier, Call Center and Mailroom roles as needed.
   May train new employees on office policies, procedures and protocols.
   May assist with Outreach Informational events in the Community as needed.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   A minimum of one (1) year of experience in Customer Service or work-related experience.
   High school diploma or equivalent; college degree preferred.
   Computer literacy and the ability to utilize software that may apply to the position and its duties.
   Knowledge of Local Government Laws, Policies a plus.
   Work Experience in Local Government a plus.
   Knowledge of Microsoft Office with a strong proficiency in Word and Excel.
   
   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
   
   Good interpersonal relation skills.
   Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak in a clean concise manner with the respect to conveying information to others.
   A thorough knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
   A thorough knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service, inclusive of customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
   Knowledge of Cook County's offices, departments, agencies, and their basic services, and the ability to convey such information to the public.
   Must demonstrate the ability to be tactful and exercise diplomacy in meeting the public as well as employees in a wide range of diverse situations.
   A high level of accuracy and proficiency in the use of computerized programs to manage and generate information, reports, letters, etc.
   Knowledge of good office management principles.
   Skills and accuracy in the control, organization and maintenance of files and records.
   Ability to work cooperatively with administrative, supervisory and professional personnel in maintaining adequate services.
   
   Note: The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee's normal line of work.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find tax examiners for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tax examiner job on Zippia to find and recruit tax examiner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit tax examiners, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tax examiner

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tax examiner position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new tax examiner. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a tax examiner?