Collectors: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Collectors, also called revenue officers in the IRS, deal with overdue accounts. The process of collecting an overdue payment starts with the revenue agent or tax examiner sending a report to the taxpayer. If the taxpayer makes no effort to pay, the case is assigned to a collector.
When a collector takes a case, he or she first sends a notice to the taxpayer. The collector then works with the taxpayer to settle the debt. Settlement may involve setting up a plan in which the amount owed is paid back in small amounts over time.
When delinquent taxpayers claim that they cannot pay their taxes, collectors investigate and verify the claims. Collectors research information on taxpayer mortgages or financial statements and locate taxpayer-owned items of value through third parties, such as neighbors or local departments of motor vehicles. Ultimately, collectors must decide whether the IRS should take a liena claim on an asset such as a bank account, real estate, or an automobileto settle a debt. Collectors also have the authority to garnish wagesthat is, take a portion of earned wagesto collect taxes owed.
- 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
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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
- Customs appraisers
- Income tax adjusters
- Internal revenue agents
- Internal revenue service agents
- Revenue agents
- Revenue collectors
- Revenue enforcement agents
- Revenue officers
- Tax collectors
- Tax compliance officers
- Tax compliance representatives
- Tax examiners
- Tax investigators
- Tax revenue officers