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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Part of Government & Public Administration, in the Revenue and Taxation pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 13-2081.00

What the work is

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

On a typical day

  • Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
  • Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.
  • Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
  • Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
  • Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.
  • Answer questions from taxpayers and assist them in completing tax forms.

What it pays

$58,200
Median pay per year, Texas (no San Antonio figure published)
New workers start near $41,450
Experienced workers reach $115,810
  1. $41k10th
  2. $48k25th
  3. $58kMedian
  4. $80k75th
  5. $116k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $41,450, 25th $47,760, Median $58,200, 75th $80,370, 90th $115,810

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

-2%

U.S. employment change

4,300

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

57,600

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension4.1
  2. Active Listening4.0
  3. Speaking4.0
  4. Critical Thinking3.8
  5. Active Learning3.8
  6. Writing3.3
  7. Mathematics3.3
  8. Monitoring3.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less23%
  2. Some college14%
  3. Associate degree26%
  4. Bachelor's degree34%
  5. Master's degree4%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northwest Vista
  • Palo Alto
  1. Accounting

    Transfer pre-major · Business & Entrepreneurship

  2. Accounting

    Degree · Transfer pre-major · Public Service

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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    Zone 34 Alamo programs

    $47kTexas median
  2. Accountants and Auditors

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  6. Budget Analysts

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