The following article discusses the career of Tax Specialist highlighting what they do, the work environment, how to become, training and certification, education, job and salary outlook.
What We Do
As a tax specialist, you will work together with clients on issues relating to tax. You will research the various tax laws and understand their implications. You will also meet with clients so that they know what options are out there for them. You will also frequently meet with customs officials and the IRS, completing forms and auditing records. Your primary duty, however, is tax planning and helping your clients pay as little tax as possible while remaining compliant.
Work Environment
You will usually work in an office and follow regular business hours. However, as tax deadlines approach, some overtime may be required.
How to Become
As a tax specialist, you have to be able to work under tight deadlines with minimum supervision. You must also have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and you must have good computer software skills. Finally, you must be highly knowledgeable on local, state and federal tax laws.
Training & Certification Requirements
To become a tax specialist, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as economics, accounting or business. Furthermore, most employers will want you to hold CPA status.
Education Requirements
Bachelor’s
Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents can expect a 6% decline in demand between 2014 and 2024. This is much slower than the national average.
National Salary
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Salary by State
Alaska – $38,000 | Rank: 49th |
The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Alabama – $712 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 12th |
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like S&M Tax Professionals.
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Arkansas – $52,000 | Rank: 13th |
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Arizona – $31,315 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 44th |
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Maricopa County and City Skills.
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California – $40,396 (▲31% Above national average) | Rank: 8th |
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like California State Personnel Board, Payroll Tax Management, Professional Career Placements, and Accountemps.
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Colorado – $42,484 (▼19% Below national average) | Rank: 33rd |
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CPS, Inc. and Restaurant Solutions Inc..
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Connecticut – $92,745 (▲76% Above national average) | Rank: 4th |
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network and Pascale & LaMorte.
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DC – $75,501 (▲44% Above national average) | Rank: 1st |
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Internal Revenue Service and Green Key Resources.
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Delaware – $45,000 | Rank: 38th |
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Florida – $28,012 (▼9% Below national average) | Rank: 28th |
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Stephen James Associates, Inc., MyFlorida, PwC, and The State Of Florida.
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Georgia – $25,612 (▼17% Below national average) | Rank: 5th |
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Synergy Solutions, EHRS Accounting Services, 2MaxTax, and Umb Services.
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Hawaii – $32,000 | Rank: 52nd |
The average salary ranks 52nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Iowa – $28,166 (▼9% Below national average) | Rank: 16th |
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps and OfficeTeam.
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Idaho – $40,588 (▲31% Above national average) | Rank: 51st |
The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like IDAHO DEPT. OF LABOR.
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Illinois – $30,105 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 6th |
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like 6 Degrees Executive Recruiters, Illinois Department of Revenue, The CSI Companies, and Randstad.
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Indiana – $27,417 (▼11% Below national average) | Rank: 24th |
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Jackson Hewitt, State of Indiana, and Accountemps.
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Kansas – $47,000 | Rank: 31st |
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Kentucky – $44,000 | Rank: 42nd |
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Louisiana – $50,496 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 34th |
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like H&R Block, State of Louisiana, and Pro Tax & Accounting Corp.
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Massachusetts – $68,882 (▲31% Above national average) | Rank: 2nd |
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, BNY Mellon, and Daley and Associates.
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Maryland – $56,440 (▲7% Above national average) | Rank: 10th |
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Anne Arundel Community College.
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Maine – $46,000 | Rank: 35th |
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Michigan – $52,000 | Rank: 14th |
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Minnesota – $45,196 (▲46% Above national average) | Rank: 39th |
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, State of Minnesota, Accountemps, and Doherty Staffing Solutions.
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Missouri – $29,337 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 17th |
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Professional Employment Group and H&R Block.
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Mississippi – $54,000 | Rank: 9th |
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Montana – $43,000 | Rank: 43rd |
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
North Carolina – $42,670 (▼19% Below national average) | Rank: 25th |
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Liberty Tax Service.
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North Dakota – $46,000 | Rank: 36th |
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Nebraska – $25,804 (▼17% Below national average) | Rank: 50th |
The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like American Title Inc.
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New Hampshire – $51,000 | Rank: 19th |
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
New Jersey – $68,617 (▲30% Above national average) | Rank: 7th |
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Tax Staffing Solutions.
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New Mexico – $33,580 (▲9% Above national average) | Rank: 40th |
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sabio Systems.
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Nevada – $39,000 | Rank: 47th |
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
New York – $59,882 (▲14% Above national average) | Rank: 3rd |
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Tax Staffing Solutions, JAM Recruitment Ltd, The Forum Group, and Huxley Associates.
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Ohio – $31,180 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 26th |
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Internal Revenue Service and Accountemps.
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Oklahoma – $43,564 (▼17% Below national average) | Rank: 29th |
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Principals.
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Oregon – $50,000 | Rank: 21st |
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Pennsylvania – $54,847 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 22nd |
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Contemporary Staffing Solutions, RemX OfficeStaff, PwC, and Accountemps.
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Rhode Island – $47,000 | Rank: 32nd |
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
South Carolina – $51,000 | Rank: 20th |
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
South Dakota – $39,000 | Rank: 48th |
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Tennessee – $38,186 (▼27% Below national average) | Rank: 30th |
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Simple Tax Solutions.
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Texas – $30,067 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 23rd |
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Deacon Recruiting, and Gain Money Now.
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Utah – $40,000 | Rank: 46th |
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Virginia – $51,428 (●Meets national average) | Rank: 15th |
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like H&R Block, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Green Key Resources, and Chesterfield County, VA.
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Vermont – $45,000 | Rank: 41st |
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Washington – $49,644 (▼7% Below national average) | Rank: 11th |
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Washington State Government, State of Washington, Employment Security Department, and Robert Half Management Resources.
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Wisconsin – $26,860 (▼13% Below national average) | Rank: 37th |
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The QTI Group.
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West Virginia – $49,000 | Rank: 27th |
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. | |
Wyoming – $42,000 | Rank: 45th |
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were no current job openings from employers in this state. |
Top 20 National Employers
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Tax Specialist. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
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Deloitte | $96,378 | |
H&R Block | Louisiana | $955 |
H&R Block | Virginia | $915 |
Internal Revenue Service | DC | $90,032 |
Jackson Hewitt | Indiana | $900 |
Liberty Tax Service | North Carolina | $900 |
Accounting Career Network | Connecticut | $89,450 |
Robert Half Finance & Accounting | Virginia | $85,935 |
Kforce Finance and Accounting | Massachusetts | $81,021 |
Accounting Career Network | $80,447 | |
Synergy Solutions | Georgia | $80,000 |
Synergy Solutions | $80,000 | |
6 Degrees Executive Recruiters | Illinois | $77,815 |
Robert Half Finance & Accounting | $75,567 | |
Internal Revenue Service | $75,006 | |
Kforce Finance and Accounting | Texas | $75,000 |
Robert Half Finance & Accounting | Minnesota | $73,858 |
Internal Revenue Service | Ohio | $73,839 |
Robert Half Finance & Accounting | Texas | $73,154 |
Deacon Recruiting | Texas | $71,217 |
References
- Careers | IRS Careers
- Becoming a Tax Specialist: Salary Information & Job …
- How Can I Become a Tax Specialist? – Learn.org
- IRS Jobs and Salary | IRS Education Information | Tax …
- Tax Specialist | IllinoisJobLink.com
*Indicates number of job postings as of June, 2017.