Accountant
Prepare and examine financial records, taxes and reports that guide business decisions.
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Community, Social & Government Services career
Tax Examiner
Also called: Revenue Agent · Tax Collector · Tax Auditor · Revenue Officer
What tax examiners do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a tax examiner do?
Tax examiners, collectors and revenue agents determine how much is owed in taxes and collect it from individuals and businesses, reviewing returns, conducting audits and resolving accounts. The median pay is $62,370 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 4 years + agency training, and employment is projected to grow -1.0% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$62,370$29.98/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-1.0%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year4,400Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to train4 years + agency trainingTypical program length
- U.S. jobs60,100Employment, 2025
What tax examiners do
Tax examiners make sure taxes are paid correctly. Examiners review returns for errors, revenue agents audit businesses and complex returns, and collectors work with people who owe taxes to set up payments and enforce collection. They work for the IRS, state revenue departments and local governments.
Most have a bachelor’s degree, often in accounting, plus agency training. Employment is projected to decline slightly, but retirements create openings and the jobs offer government stability.
Typical duties
- Review tax returns for accuracy
- Audit individuals and businesses
- Contact taxpayers about issues
- Calculate taxes owed
- Set up payment plans
- Enforce collection when required
- Document cases
Work environment and schedule
Tax examiners work in government offices, with field visits for some auditors and collectors.
Schedule: Most work full-time during business hours, with busier periods around filing deadlines.
A day in the life
- Review flagged returns in the case queue.
- Analyze a business’s deductions.
- Call a taxpayer about missing income.
- Meet a business owner for an audit interview.
See a full day in the life of a tax examiner →
Tax Examiner salary
Half of tax examiners earned more than $62,370 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $42,000 for the lowest 10% to $114,550 for the top 10%.
Full tax examiner pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a tax examiner
- Study accounting
- Apply to agencies
- Complete agency training
- Handle cases
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree is typical, often in accounting or a related field, plus agency training.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a tax examiner →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Tax law
- Accounting
- Auditing
- Financial analysis
- Interviewing
People skills
- Integrity
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Firmness
All tax examiner skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stable government jobs
- Strong benefits
- Use accounting skills
- Path to senior audit roles
Cons
- Employment projected to decline
- Difficult conversations
- Complex tax law
- Paperwork
Certifications and licenses
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA): Valued for revenue agents.
- Enrolled Agent (EA): IRS tax credential.
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA): Audit credential.
- Agency training programs: Required for examiners.
Career path
- Tax Examiner: Review returns.
- Revenue Agent or Officer: Audit or collect.
- Senior Agent: Handle complex cases.
- Group Manager: Lead teams.
Learn the job before day one
Our Tax Examiner training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as review a tax return and conduct an audit interview, safety and how to land your first job.
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Eligibility Interviewer
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Compare: Tax Examiner vs. Accountant · Tax Examiner vs. Tax Preparer · Tax Examiner vs. Financial Analyst · Tax Examiner vs. Eligibility Interviewer
Tax Examiner FAQ
Do tax examiners need a degree?
Usually a bachelor’s, often in accounting.
Is the field growing?
BLS projects a slight decline, with openings from retirements.
Who employs them?
The IRS and state and local revenue agencies.
How much does a tax examiner make?
The median annual wage for tax examiners was $62,370 ($29.98 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $42,000 and the highest 10% earned more than $114,550.
How long does it take to become a tax examiner?
Most people need about 4 years + agency training of training. A bachelor’s degree is typical, often in accounting or a related field, plus agency training.
Do you need a degree to be a tax examiner?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 13-2081 (Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.