Revenue agents: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Revenue agents specialize in tax-related accounting for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and for equivalent agencies in state and local governments. Like tax examiners, they review returns for accuracy. However, revenue agents handle complicated tax returns of large businesses and corporations.
Many experienced revenue agents specialize in a particular area. For example, they may focus exclusively on multinational businesses. Regardless of their specialty, revenue agents must keep up to date with changes in the lengthy and complex tax laws and regulations.
- Education Required
- Tax examiners need a bachelors degree in accounting or a related field, or a combination of relevant education and specialized experience in accounting, auditing, or tax compliance work. Candidates for tax examiner positions at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must have a bachelors degree or 1 year of full-time specialized experience.
- Training Required
- Newly hired tax examiners get some formal training, which typically lasts between 1 month and 1 year. All tax examiners must keep current with changes in the tax code and in enforcement procedures.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: -1% (Little or no change)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Advancement
- Tax examiners, revenue agents, and collectors have different opportunities for career advancement. Tax examiners who review individual tax returns may advance to revenue agent positions, working on more complex business returns. Those with experience in supervisory or managerial roles may move to jobs that involve supervision of other examiners and revenue agents. Collectors who demonstrate leadership skills and a thorough knowledge of tax collection activities may advance to supervisory or managerial collector positions.
- Median pay: How much do Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents make?
- $52,060 Annual Salary
- $25.03 per hour
Careers for Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- City collectors
- Collectors
- Customs appraisers
- Income tax adjusters
- Internal revenue agents
- Internal revenue service agents
- Revenue collectors
- Revenue enforcement agents
- Revenue officers
- Tax collectors
- Tax compliance officers
- Tax compliance representatives
- Tax examiners
- Tax investigators
- Tax revenue officers