Tax Law Specialist

Internal Revenue Service • Fresno, CA

7d

About The Position

The Tax Law Specialist researches and analyzes the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury regulations, judicial decisions, legislative history, revenue rulings, revenue procedures, and related authorities to determine their impact on taxpayer reporting requirements and assigned taxpayer products. The position develops, revises, reviews, and maintains tax forms, schedules, instructions, publications, and related guidance involving moderately complex tax law provisions and implementation requirements.

The specialist evaluates legislative and regulatory changes and recommends implementation approaches. The role resolves recurring and moderately complex technical issues involving tax-law interpretation and application, supports consistency across related taxpayer products and guidance, and identifies operational impacts of reporting and compliance requirements. It reviews products for technical accuracy, legal sufficiency, and administrative feasibility; provides technical assistance and recommendations to internal stakeholders; and collaborates with operating divisions, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders. The position also participates in modernization, simplification, and burden-reduction initiatives to improve taxpayer understanding, reporting accuracy, and compliance effectiveness.

The position is in Taxpayer Services, Customer Assistance, Relationship and Education (CARE), Tax Forms & Publications. The announcement covers GS-11 and GS-12 levels. Federal experience is not required; qualifying experience may come from public-sector, private-sector, or volunteer service. Newly appointed employees are subject to a probationary or trial period and must obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business travel. The position requires U.S. citizenship or national status, applicable Selective Service registration, identity and employment eligibility verification, and suitability screening, including tax verification and personnel vetting.

Requirements

• For GS-11, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 involving legal, tax-accounting, or other work requiring knowledge of federal tax laws, regulations, precedent decisions, or related subject matter; alternatively, an LL.M. specializing in taxation or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience.
• For GS-12, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 involving knowledge of federal tax laws, regulations, precedent decisions, or related subject matter, plus experience addressing taxpayer needs using federal tax technical materials; translating technical tax matters into clear explanatory materials; applying accounting methods to interpret new tax laws; researching tax issues using online and paper methods; applying learning theory and cognitive thinking to materials; and working with printing/design requirements, computer specifications and programming requirements, and SGML or another designated electronic composition and publishing system.
• Qualifying experience may include preparing, reviewing, or applying federal tax rulings, advisory letters, or memoranda; analyzing or resolving tax claims, appeals, or settlement offers; attorney work involving legal research and analysis; or accountant, auditor, or investigator work applying federal tax accounting principles or the Internal Revenue Code.
• Meet the federal minimum age requirement: 18, or at least 16 with one of the listed education or vocational-training qualifications.
• Be a U.S. citizen or national and provide proof of citizenship.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959, or establish an exemption.
• Provide two forms of identification from the Form I-9 list; documents must be unexpired originals or certified copies.
• Obtain and use a government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• Pass applicable suitability screening, including review of tax compliance and personnel vetting; prior IRS employees are subject to review of prior conduct.
• For foreign education to count, provide evidence that it is equivalent to conventional U.S. education.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyze tax statutes, regulations, judicial decisions, legislative history, rulings, procedures, and related authorities for their effects on taxpayer reporting requirements and assigned products.
• Develop, revise, review, and maintain tax forms, schedules, instructions, publications, and related guidance materials.
• Evaluate legislative and regulatory changes and recommend approaches for implementing them in assigned products.
• Resolve recurring and moderately complex technical issues concerning the interpretation and application of tax law.
• Promote consistency among related taxpayer products and guidance materials and identify operational impacts of reporting and compliance requirements.
• Review assigned products for technical accuracy, legal sufficiency, and administrative feasibility.
• Provide technical assistance and recommendations to internal stakeholders regarding assigned products and tax-law provisions.
• Collaborate with operating divisions, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders to resolve technical issues and coordinate implementation.
• Participate in modernization, simplification, and burden-reduction initiatives intended to improve taxpayer understanding, reporting accuracy, and compliance effectiveness.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families subject to position type and eligibility.
• Alternative work schedules and staggered work hours may be available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed