Working for the IRS

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#1
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I'm a senior manager at a large firm, focus on very high net worth individuals and related entites... I've been in public accounting for 12+ years. With the recently passed act, and the increased funding, I'm wondering if they could now offer competitive salaries in the 150K - 200K range to lure people with experience. I'm a little burned out and wouldn't mind something different for a couple of years. Maybe with some of the $80Billion, they are going to make the IRS hip and attractive to the younger crowd?

Anyone have any insight?
Last edited by IDunnoItDepends on 12-Aug-2022 5:50pm, edited 1 time in total.
 

#2
HowardS  
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No insight, but it wouldn't hurt to apply and see what they offer.
Of course, if you go to the dark side we won't speak to you any more... ;)

Would you have to change your name to NowIKnowItDoesntDepend?
Retired, no salvage value.
 

#3
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HowardS wrote:No insight, but it wouldn't hurt to apply and see what they offer.
Of course, if you go to the dark side we won't speak to you any more... ;)

Would you have to change your name to NowIKnowItDoesntDepend?


:lol:
 

#4
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The answer to your question is no. What agents are paid is publicly disclosed, and is based on your GS level and locality. Here is the table. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversig ... l-schedule

You have zero experience conducting an IRS audit according to IRS procedure. Let’s say you fangled yourself up to GS-13. It’s still below the salary you stated.

Just slide your finger across GS-13 and GS-14. That’s the max salary for an agent.
Same for managers or any other government employee. Salary is publicly disclosed, look up the max.
And realize that without IRS procedure experience, you are not max. Occasionally they bring a lawyer or someone with international experience in at GS-14, but that’s rare.

They can bring in someone with a truly niche area- like international, or estate and gift tax, or an engineer or an economist, or Counsel, or IT, and everyone will be ok with that.

But if they bring in someone who doesn’t know procedure (it takes 2-5 years to learn) for regular federal tax and don’t offer the positions to people who actually know what they are doing- that will not go over well. They will probably open it up both internally and externally, shove all the internal (more qualified) people into appropriate spots, fill some with external experienced hires, and then hire a TON of newly graduated accountants in a 3 year GS-9-11-13 track. They can purchase 4 newly hired GS-9s for one experienced GS-13. And makes sense to do so because- a) the first year attrition rate is HIGH and so is the second and third and fourth year and b) they don’t want people for 2-4 years. You will barely know procedure at the end of 3 years, they want you for 30-40 years.
 

#5
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And if I was hiring, I wouldn’t hire partners or senior managers as agents. You guys bring in clients. That isn’t the job skill needed, it’s the daily grind of preparing returns that is needed. Sure, you can argue management skill- but that may actually cause problems because you won’t be the manager anymore, you will be low person on the totem pole because you know zero procedure (and representing from this end is totally different from preparing and opening up issues from the IRS end). If I was hiring, I would want associates and senior associates- those who would stick around for decades and are still malleable.

And the cut-off for special agents is 37.

So yes, apply, but look at the salary table, understand pension doesn’t kick in until after 10 years, etc. What you don’t seem to understand is that the IRS hasn’t hired in a long, long time. There are agents with 13-20 years of experience that haven’t been promoted due to budget (and have just as much experience as an outside CPA), and most of the agents (not the TCOs, the actual agents) have several degrees and especially in Hawaii speak SEVERAL languages, and have been stuck at their current level /pay for a long, long, long time. After those are promoted, then you need the new generation of lifers.

So look at the max GS-14 in Hawaii. It’s 10,000 below your minimum. And to get there- you would need at least 2 degrees with no IRS procedure experience.
Last edited by Treetopclimes on 18-Aug-2022 10:31am, edited 1 time in total.
 

#6
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My spouse is employed by the federal government. Has earned much less than could be earned in the private sector. However, the benefits and pension plan are really good! Have to look at everything as a package.
 

#7
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It was good under CSRS (employment began before 1984) because the defined benefit was great.
However, under FERS, the defined benefit was greatly reduced (and only kicks in after 10 years), plus the 401K matching is higher on the outside.

In terms of pay and benefit, it’s better outside of the IRS than within. But if you have kids or are planning to have kids, the IRS is the clear better employment.
Last edited by Treetopclimes on 19-Aug-2022 11:03pm, edited 1 time in total.
 

#8
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Here. They have GS-5 to GS-12 agents open now.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/665348500

If you have 0-3 years of experience, I think the IRS is a great place to work. But more than 5 years, it’s because you are having kids, or can’t get hired elsewhere because of your age (the IRS doesn’t discriminate against the elderly). The pay you give up after 5 years makes it less likely you would choose the IRS.
 

#9
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And here is a GS-13 gift tax job
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/637524100

And GS 5-9 revenue officers
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/660212000

GS-15 actuary (fabulous if you can get it)
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/658965300

GL 7-9 Special Agents (also a fab job, apply if you qualify, the low pay doesn’t last forever)
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/634575800

GS-13 IT
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/661101200

GS 3-15 Resumes from Disabled Veterans
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/630332300

GS 3-11 Resumes from Veterans
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/619635200

GS 3-15 Resumes from those with Sch A Disabilities
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/630332100

GS-14 Transfer Pricing Specialist
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/661450800
 

#10
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Interesting! Thanks for your insight! I guess I'll see if all this money they will be receiving will increase salaries or if they are set in stone.
 

#11
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GS salaries (what federal employees receive) are set annually. The GS salaries are not just for IRS employees, they are for all federal agencies using GS salaries (most of them). They usually go up slightly every year due to inflation (maybe 1%).

So, no, the salaries will not increase. The salaries will not be “raised”, the GS salaries are set in stone. The GS-13 and GS-14 salaries are below your salary expectation. Salary is the reason why experienced tax preparers don’t work for the IRS.

What could occur is that instead of hiring at the GS-9 level, the IRS hires experienced employees with multiple college degrees at GS-13 sometime in Jan-April 2023 (after the HR employees are onboarded in October). And a very few GS-14s will be hired. Your best bet for GS-14 is if you have a law degree and either gift and estate tax experience, transfer pricing experience, or international tax experience.

And unless you are a cryptocurrency/international/hedge fund manager, you won’t get a GS-15 position. You can go your whole career at IRS and never meet a GS-15, they are that rare.
 

#12
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The GS-13 positions got posted quicker than I thought they would:

GS-13 General Engineer
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/677359200

GS-13 Eastern Area- LB&I Revenue Agent
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/674427700

GS-13 NE Area- LB&I Revenue Agent
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/674409200

GS-13 Western Area- LB&I Revenue Agent
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/673883100

GS-14 Tax Law Specialist.
“Withholding, Exchange & International Individual Compliance (WEIIC) Automatic Exchange of information (AEOI) Office. Incumbent serves as an expert in interpretation and application of chapters 3 and 4 of the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, a TLS in the AEOI Office administers and coordinates withholding agreements between the IRS and NRA individuals and foreign corporations, including qualified intermediaries and other foreign financial institutions.”
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/676895600

GS-14 Tax Law Specialist- International Transfer Pricing Specialist
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/661450800
Last edited by Treetopclimes on 20-Sep-2022 5:23am, edited 1 time in total.
 

#13
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So that is it. Apply now if you want to work for the IRS as a revenue agent.

I think… looking at the GS-13 positions, if you were trying to get in as an experienced hire, apply for both the GS-13 estate and gift tax job and the LB&I job. Odds are better for the estate & gift tax job.
Last edited by Treetopclimes on 20-Sep-2022 5:22am, edited 1 time in total.
 

#14
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GS-15 Atlanta- Supervisory Trial Attorney (Tax) (Associate Area Counsel)
If you are an experienced lawyer looking to lead Atlanta’s IRS counsel before Tax Court
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/677300200
 


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