Career Definition of a Tax Collector
Tax collectors, also referred to as revenue officers, attempt to gather money owed to the government by individuals or businesses late in filing tax returns. Tax collectors check into the background of those who have struggled to pay; they also communicate with these people to work toward a solution. They are responsible for conducting field audits, evaluating financial information and keeping records on each case. Most tax collectors work for the government at federal, state or local levels.
| Education | Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or finance. Master's degree may be required. |
| Job Skills | Persistence, in addition to excellent communication, computer, and customer service skills |
| Median Salary (2021)* | $63,200 (Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents) |
| Job Outlook (2021-2031)* | 7% decline in job growth (Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
Most agencies that hire tax collectors require job candidates to have at least a bachelor's degree; to advance in the field, obtaining a master's degree or more may be necessary. Degrees prospective tax collectors will want to consider are a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, A Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master's of Business Administration in Tax Accounting. Most undergraduate programs of interest to tax collectors take four years to complete, while graduate programs generally take an additional two years. In addition to education, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that most tax collectors also have relevant experience in the field.
Skills Required
Tax collectors must have great persistence, since getting individuals and businesses to address unpaid taxes can be extremely difficult. Great communication skills are desirable, since tax collectors must write and talk with people facing financial distress. Tax collectors must also have computer experience; investigatory work is almost entirely done online.
Career and Economic Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 55,300 jobs existed for tax examiners and tax collectors in 2021. The BLS predicted a decline of 7 percent in this field from 2021 to 2031. As of May 2021, the median salary for tax collectors was $63,200.
Alternate Career Options
Other options to consider in this career field include:
Accountant and Auditor
Faster-than-average employment growth of 6% was anticipated by the BLS during the 2021-2031 decade for this field, which paid an annual median salary of $77,250 in 2021. A minimum of a bachelor's degree in accounting or a closely related field is required for accountants and auditors. These professionals examine and prepare financial records for the efficient progress of organizations.
Cost Estimator
With a bachelor's degree or extensive experience in the construction field, cost estimators then pursue employment collecting and analyzing information to estimate the necessary resources for manufacturing and constructing products or providing certain services. The BLS reported the annual median wage for cost estimators as $65,170 in 2021 and projected a 2% decline anticipated from 2021-2031.
