This is the in-training level of the series. Under general supervision, researches, develops, analyzes, implements, or interprets tax policy.

Positions at this level perform professional level work in a variety of tax policy disciplines.

Positions in a training capacity assist higher level Tax Policy Specialists in the implementation and integration of new tax programs or changes to existing programs.  They participate in analyzing proposed tax legislation, and formulating and presenting policy options to executive management and legislative staff; OR

Positions in a training capacity are assigned responsibility for subdivisions of a tax program or tax operation area and conduct studies of major importance. They assist in conceptualization and review of all aspects of studies to include assessment of impacts and policy implications from the agency perspective. They assist in the development of policy options based on sound tax policy and participate in advising executive management and legislative staff on impacts of policy options.

Assists in the coordinating, integrating, and monitoring of complex tax policy analysis and tax program implementation;

Assists in planning, integrating, and monitoring results of tax administration among functional sections;

Assists in establishing and maintaining records of tax program workflow costs and production statistics;

Assists in the development of proposed policy options and evaluates existing policies by means of statistical, survey, mathematical, and other scientific methods of analysis;

Assists in the design and implementation of tax incidence, econometric, forecasting, and simulation models;

Analyzes Washington State tax research and other economic databases; oversees collection, analysis, and reporting of tax data;

In an in-training capacity, assists in the drafting of rules to be adopted as part of the Washington Administrative Code for all revenue acts administered by the agency;

In an in-training capacity, assists in performing legal research relating to proposed tax legislation or taxpayer appeals of Departmental actions;

In an in-training capacity, assists in the preparation of draft decisions and determinations for less complex taxpayer appeals;

Performs other duties as required.

For Legislation and Policy positions:

A Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, accounting, public finance or closely allied field. 

AND

Three years of professional experience in tax administration, tax auditing, tax collection, or tax program/policy analysis. A Master's degree or equivalent in a Ph.D. program in business or public administration, accounting, public finance, or closely allied field will substitute for two years of experience. 

For Research positions:

A Bachelor's degree in economics, public finance or closely allied field. 

AND

Three years of professional experience in economic analysis or tax program/policy analysis. A Master's degree or equivalent in a Ph.D. program in economics, public finance, or closely allied field will substitute for two years of experience. A Ph.D. degree in economics, public finance, or closely allied field will substitute for experience.

For Legal positions:

Admission to practice law in the State of Washington; or graduation from an accredited school of law and current admission to practice before the highest court of a state.

New class adopted July 15, 1994.
Revise class.  Revises class code (formerly 15410); adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, typical work, and desirable qualifications, adopted June 13, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.