MightyRecruiterTax collectors ensure people and other entities pay taxes they owe to the government. To do this, collectors must get in touch with people who have not paid adequate taxes and figure out how to collect those taxes. This may involve setting up payment plans. If a person states he or she is unable to pay taxes, a collector may conduct research into the truth of those claims.
Bachelor’s degrees in accounting and related fields are often required for a tax collector job description, in addition to work experience. Tax collectors should be organized, analytical thinkers who can work with lots of complicated details but can also work well with people.
That should give you a great overview of what tax collectors do and what qualities to look for in candidates. To learn what you should put in a tax collector job description, check out the example below.
Tax Collector Job Summary
We take our work seriously and our hiring just as seriously. If you’re an experienced tax collection professional with an advanced understanding of tax collection, an accounting-related educational background and a desire to lead and manage, we hope you’ll get in touch with us. Work as our tax collector and help us collect delinquent taxes owed to our government body. You’ll use your advanced tax knowledge as well as methodical procedures when collecting taxes and resolving difficult and complicated tax situations that may or may not include legal action. If you’re the right candidate for us, you’ll see this highly detailed and technical job opportunity as an exciting challenge.
Job Responsibilities
- Lead the collection of overdue taxes for the area to ensure the governmental body receives the correct amounts owed
- Regularly reach out to taxpayers to inform them of their delinquent taxes and follow all applicable laws when collecting taxes
- Communicate with taxpayers or people acting on their behalf to discuss complex issues regarding delinquent taxes
- Work with said taxpayers and representatives to discuss and coordinate payment plans to repay the taxes taxpayers owe to the government
- Possess a great deal of knowledge related to tax collection best practices and be able to clearly and confidently explain tax issues to taxpayers and others
- Keep organized and meticulous files regarding past tax collection efforts and all applicable details
- Manage a team of more junior collection professionals and take responsibility for the quality, completeness and accuracy of their work
- Frequently interface with the public and maintain a professional, reputable demeanor at all times
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting (other similar majors may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- Experience with and knowledge of local tax laws and requirements
- Great computer skills and experience utilizing accounting software and related programs
- Excellent customer service skills and ability to work with difficult or angry people
Preferred:
- Three years of managerial experience
Tax Collector Job Responsibilities
When you review a resume, you carefully look at the work experience section to gauge a candidate’s qualifications. When candidates view a job posting, they examine the job responsibilities section to learn about job duties they will need to perform. The tax collector job responsibilities section is where jobseekers find the bulk of information in the tax collector job description, so it’s critical that this section is well-written. It should spell out tasks and responsibilities of the position so readers understand the day-to-day demands of the role.
A helpful format for the tax collector job description is a bullet list because it’s easy to read and understand. Applicants can use it to quickly assess whether they have the necessary skills before applying, which can help save you the headache of reading through applications from unqualified candidates. Remember to start each bullet point with an action verb to help jobseekers better understand how they will need to perform tasks.
Here are some examples of tax collector daily activities:
- Review credits and deductions on income tax returns to ensure claims are legally allowed
- Contact taxpayers by phone or mail with any questions and to request documentation, if needed to support claims
- Perform field audits and research tax returns to update taxpayer information and liabilities
- Issue refunds in case of overpayment or collect further payment, if needed
Tax Collector Job Specifications
The job qualifications and skills section of the job description goes hand in hand with the job responsibilities section to give jobseekers an understanding of specific credentials they must have. Tax collecting calls for unique accounting skills and a specific education. Listing well-defined prerequisites in the tax collector job description can further narrow the field of candidates and help you gather resumes from the most qualified applicants.
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to meet with the interview committee or hiring manager for input on specific skills to include. Be sure you have a clear understanding of which skills are necessary and which are ideal before writing the tax collector job description. Dividing the skills in this manner helps ensure that applicants and the hiring manager have the same expectations.
Following are a few samples of tax collector job specifications to give you an idea of what to include:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related fields, such as finance, business or criminal justice
- 2 years of experience as a tax collector or in a similar position, such as loan officer, credit manager or collections specialist
- Highly skilled in spreadsheet use, with the ability to input data and manipulate columns, rows and cells. Additional skills include creating worksheets, charts and graphs
- Knowledgeable about and able to understand tax laws, legal codes and government regulations
