Tax Specialist

Polk County Tax Collector•Bartow, FL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Tax Specialist is responsible for providing the public with courteous, accurate, and timely customer service in the process of current, delinquent, ad valorem, and non-ad valorem tax payments. This person facilitates changes and corrections to the current property tax roll and investigates customer inquiries and responds either in-person, by phone, mail, or email. The Tax Specialist determines the customers’ needs and acts as an advocate to guarantee their transaction is completed within Florida Statutes, Department of Revenue (DOR) rules and regulations and Polk County ordinances. The most essential skill is attitude and includes the following: positive interaction & cooperation with co-workers, responding politely to customers, working as a team member, function under intense time pressure and responding in a positive manner to supervision.

Requirements

High school diploma or general education degree
One year customer service experience
Valid Florida driver’s license or be able to obtain one at time of employment
Board of County Commissioner’s defensive driving certificate obtained upon employment, if needed
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong problem solving skills
Ability to prepare reports, projects and documents
Skilled in researching, collecting and interpreting data
Strong mathematical skills
Positive and helpful attitude
Highly dependable and motivated
Ability to effectively manage multiple projects at the same time
Ability to provide the public with competent, courteous and accurate customer service
Strong time management skills – timely processing of current, delinquent, ad valorem, and non-ad valorem taxes
Good working knowledge of the published procedures and regulations governing the TCPC
Provide excellent customer service while handling a large number of complex customer transactions

Responsibilities

Answer incoming calls, property tax (Tax), business tax (BT) and tourist development tax (TDT).
Process payments for Tax, BT, and TDT.
Process applications for BT and TDT.
Process refunds for processing, Tax, BT and TDT.
Process Tax deed application redemptions.
Process partial payments, including bankruptcy.
Process transfer of certificates and purchase of tax certificates.
Process credit card transactions for Tax, BT and TDT transactions.
Process certificate of corrections to the Tax roll.
Process Homestead Back Assessment taxes.
Process Pro-rations and Orders of Taking (eminent domain) in taxes.
Process ISF (bad) checks.
Process Online Payments.
Handle comment cards.
Balance for all tills at the Accounting Desk.
Assist with corrections, Tax, BT and TDT.
Return incorrect customer payments, Tax, BT and TDT.
Prepare the installment tax roll, Tax.
Update address changes, Tax, BT and TDT.
Handle customer inquiries and correspondence including email.
Perform Roll Maintenance – Tax, BT, TDT including status code changes, coding and verifying partial payment affidavits.
Perform tax searches.
Research the internet regarding address changes, Tax, BT and TDT.
Send new property owner letters.
Investigate tax payments that are received without a corresponding tax bill.
Assist with opening mail, Tax, BT, and TDT.
Send tax deed warning letters.
Track and distribute overnight mail including Fed Ex, UPS or other.
Process mortgage company information.
Manage records retention tracking for Taxes.
Assist with Purchasing.
Assist in Service Centers. This may require additional training.
Assist with Courier Run.