Business and finance
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
Median pay
$62,370
Growth to 2035
−1%
little or no change
Openings a year
4,400
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents: 31% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: City Tax Auditor · Collections Specialist · Revenue Agent · Revenue Collector · Revenue Officer · Revenue Specialist · Tax Collector · Tax Compliance Officer
Outlook and AI
Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents held 60,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 59,500 by 2035 (−1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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