Accounting/Business/Finance

A Day in the Life

As a Revenue Officer with the Internal Revenue Service, every day brings new and exciting challenges. I don't just sit behind a desk. I'm involved in a variety of different roles such as investigator, negotiator, financial planner and tax collector.

One of my chief responsibilities is to conduct field investigations. I locate taxpayers or their assets to determine the most effective collection procedure. I'm provided with a wide variety of internal and external investigative tools that assist me in determining the necessary course of action to resolve cases. Each case is unique, and I'm responsible for multiple cases at a time. They all require using different investigative techniques.

When I meet face-to-face with taxpayers, I'm there to provide guidance and customer service on a wide range of financial problems. I assist them in formulating a course of action to resolve their tax issues. Usually this requires educating them on filing responsibilities, taxpayer rights, payment of overdue taxes and future compliance.

The IRS has provided me with extensive on-the-job and classroom training. Everything I learned I was able to apply from the start. I constantly receive refresher courses that keep me up-to-date on the latest tax law changes and compliance processes.

Interpersonal and organizational skills are the key to being a successful Revenue Officer. In order to independently manage my case actions and inventory, I designed and established my own workload management system. I'm able to organize my work and identify priorities based on program objectives and case types.

When conducting field investigations, I interact with all types of individuals and businesses. One day I may meet with a small business owner, and the following day I will meet with a CPA representing a large corporation. I may even encounter individuals who are hostile or distressed - but meeting and dealing with individuals from all walks of life is an extremely rewarding experience.

Let me tell you a little more about the daily life of a Revenue Officer.
By the time I receive a case, Contact Representatives have made several attempts to assist the taxpayer in resolving compliance issues. Then it's up to me to interview the taxpayer and attempt to secure financial information so I can establish a plan of action for case resolution. I consider a variety of alternatives to reach a fair and equitable solution. I analyze their business operations and financial condition by conducting a credit analysis and evaluating their assets. Then I determine the most appropriate collection procedure. This may include, but is not limited to, full payment, installment agreement, liens, levies, seizures and summonses. In summary, my decision may impact taxpayer lives and, in some cases, may become confrontational. Finally, I prepare a narrative report to support my recommendations.

When you combine the benefits, the training, the work environment and the day-to-day challenges, you can see that a career as a Revenue Officer really does all add up.