What Do Internal Revenue Agents Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for internal revenue agents?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what internal revenue agents do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Internal Revenue Agents Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about internal revenue agents by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Internal Revenue Agents determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
Popular Job Titles For Internal Revenue Agents
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Tax Preparer Assistants
- Tax Associates
- Tax Analysts
- Tax Specialists
- Payroll Tax Analysts
- Tax Advisors
- Revenue Specialists
- Indirect Tax Analysts
- Tax Administrative Assistants
- Field Agents
- Tax Examiners
- International Tax Associates
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for internal revenue agents can be found.
Best Industries for Internal Revenue Agents
Internal Revenue Agents Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 45.5%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 36%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 18.4%
- Gambling Industries: 0%
- Other: 0.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of internal revenue agents can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2022, about 45.5% of all jobs for internal revenue agents were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (36%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (18.4%) and Gambling Industries (0%).
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Degree Options for Internal Revenue Agents
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Turn a head for numbers into a career as a financial associate or analyst, and help businesses turn financial data into actionable insights that can maximize investments, improve cash flow, and impact decisionmaking.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
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- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Internal Revenue Agents Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what internal revenue agents do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work internal revenue agents do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that internal revenue agents tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for internal revenue agents, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Internal Revenue Agents
Based on 33,927 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Internal Revenue Agents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 20,342 | 60% |
| Tax Returns | 13,631 | 40% |
| Auditing | 10,630 | 31% |
| Finance | 8,456 | 25% |
| Tax Laws | 8,313 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Internal Revenue Agents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 13,906 | 41% |
| Research | 13,439 | 40% |
| Customer Service | 9,567 | 28% |
| Management | 8,630 | 25% |
| Writing | 7,920 | 23% |
Based on 33,927 job postings related to internal revenue agents, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 60% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for tax returns, auditing, finance, tax laws and tax preparation were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for internal revenue agents, followed by research, customer service, management, writing and problem solving.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 20,342 | 60% |
| Tax Returns | 13,631 | 40% |
| Auditing | 10,630 | 31% |
| Finance | 8,456 | 25% |
| Tax Laws | 8,313 | 25% |
| Tax Preparation | 7,850 | 23% |
| State Taxes | 6,282 | 19% |
| Public Accounting | 5,404 | 16% |
| Tax Consulting | 4,586 | 14% |
| Tax Research | 4,562 | 13% |
| Corporate Tax | 4,548 | 13% |
| Tax Compliance | 4,282 | 13% |
| Income Tax | 4,281 | 13% |
| Tax Planning | 3,769 | 11% |
| Preparer Tax Identification Number | 3,214 | 9% |
| Customer Inquiries | 3,202 | 9% |
| TurboTax | 3,190 | 9% |
| Software Product Management | 3,166 | 9% |
| Corporate Finance | 2,518 | 7% |
| Financial Statements | 2,435 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 13,906 | 41% |
| Research | 13,439 | 40% |
| Customer Service | 9,567 | 28% |
| Management | 8,630 | 25% |
| Writing | 7,920 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 7,761 | 23% |
| Microsoft Excel | 7,160 | 21% |
| Operations | 6,084 | 18% |
| Detail Oriented | 6,003 | 18% |
| Sales | 5,608 | 17% |
| Filing | 5,521 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 5,408 | 16% |
| Critical Thinking | 5,348 | 16% |
| Planning | 4,651 | 14% |
| Troubleshooting (Problem Solving) | 3,757 | 11% |
| Empathy | 3,362 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 3,298 | 10% |
| Leadership | 3,211 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,137 | 9% |
| Time Management | 3,047 | 9% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Internal Revenue Agents
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Preparer Assistants | 5,695 | 13% |
| Tax Associates | 7,483 | 17% |
| Tax Analysts | 5,933 | 13.5% |
| Tax Specialists | 3,610 | 8.2% |
| Payroll Tax Analysts | 2,564 | 5.8% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was tax preparer assistants, with 3,064 unique job postings. Tax associates were second, with 2,507 postings, followed by tax analysts, tax specialists and payroll tax analysts.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to internal revenue agents.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Preparer Assistants | 5,695 | 13% |
| Tax Associates | 7,483 | 17% |
| Tax Analysts | 5,933 | 13.5% |
| Tax Specialists | 3,610 | 8.2% |
| Payroll Tax Analysts | 2,564 | 5.8% |
| Tax Advisors | 2,363 | 5.4% |
| Revenue Specialists | 2,309 | 5.3% |
| Indirect Tax Analysts | 1,297 | 3% |
| Tax Administrative Assistants | 1,424 | 3.2% |
| Field Agents | 2,458 | 5.6% |
| Tax Examiners | 840 | 1.9% |
| International Tax Associates | 1,587 | 3.6% |
| Tax Advisors/Certified Public Accountants/Enrolled Agents/Attorneys | 1,034 | 2.4% |
| State and Local Tax Associates | 1,111 | 2.5% |
| Tax Reviewers | 947 | 2.2% |
| Credentialed Tax Experts | 825 | 1.9% |
| Corporate Tax Associates | 648 | 1.5% |
| Associate Tax Managers | 689 | 1.6% |
| Revenue Agents | 662 | 1.5% |
| Sales Tax Analysts | 442 | 1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for internal revenue agents? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for internal revenue agents.
How much do internal revenue agents make?
Internal Revenue Agents: How do you become one?
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