Senior Tax Examiner

Location: Augusta,Maine,United States

Opening Date: June 10, 2024

Closing Date:  June 25, 2024

Job Class Code: 0510
Grade: 23
Salary: $78,625.04/Annually which includes a 15% stipend
Position Number: 016303783

Job Description:

This is administrative work in applying laws and regulations to the assessment and collection of taxes. Responsibilities include making determinations on amount and type of taxes owed and directing collection of taxes. This classification is differentiated from Tax Examiner in that it supervises Tax Examiners, and it is required to handle the most difficult and complex tax compliance and determination problems. Work is performed under limited supervision.

This Senior Tax Examiner position will work in the Compliance Division supervising the employees and operations for the Litigation Section of the Special Enforcement Unit.

Typical Duties:

• Plans, organizes, assigns, and oversees unit work in order to ensure an orderly and efficient workflow.
• Explains state tax laws, rules, and regulations to attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, and taxpayers in order to explain proper procedures to be used in determining tax liabilities and filing requirements.
• Answers telephone, writes letters, and gives opinions of a complex nature to the public, professionals, and legislators in order to provide requested information.
• Develops and coordinates section operations and training in order to ensure established goals and objectives are met effectively and efficiently.
• Researches, reports, and recommends changes in section procedures and practices in order to enhance operational efficiency.
• Receives, reviews, and updates non-payment files and non-filing contracts; and interviews taxpayer, obtains payment, or arranges payment plan in order to collect outstanding taxes and ensure filing of all returns.
• Reviews and discusses problem taxpayer accounts with Assistant Attorney General; submits written reports of interviews, observations, and evidence; and appears as a witness for the State in order to gather and provide information necessary for civil or criminal court cases.
• Reviews and evaluates complex reports of corporations, partnerships, and individuals in order to determine proper taxpayer compliance and correct State tax liability.
• Implements and complies with human resource laws, policies, procedures and practices such as: AA/EEO, recruitment, employment, position classification, performance appraisals, training, discipline, contract administration, human resource components of security protocols of agency information security and confidentiality policies, and employee safety.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of state and federal tax laws, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge of the various forms used in tax preparation.
• Knowledge of collections techniques and procedures.
• Knowledge of confidentiality requirements of tax-related information.
• Knowledge of accounting procedures and systems.
• Knowledge of Bureau policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the judicial process as it relates to tax compliance.
• Ability to supervise subordinate personnel.
• Ability to detect violation of tax laws.
• Ability to establish payment plans for collecting taxes.
• Ability to oversee the work of other technical and/or clerical employees.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to interpret and apply tax laws, rules, and regulations to varying situations.
• Ability to detect errors in tax returns.
• Ability to analyze information, reach logical conclusions, and make sound decisions.
• Ability to use applicable computer programs.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited educational institution and eighteen (18) months of professional work experience in accounting, auditing, finance, or tax preparation/examination. Equivalent experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Please note: All job candidates applying for Maine Revenue Services’ positions will be subject to a tax clearance check. In order to be selected for a position, all returns must be filed, and tax liabilities must be paid in full. The results of the tax clearance check will be documented as part of the selection process.

For all candidates not currently employed at Maine Revenue Services: State law requires that applicants seeking initial employment with Maine Revenue Services undergo a fingerprint-based state and c