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State of Washington Classified Job Specification

TAX INFORMATION SPECIALIST 4

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TAX INFORMATION SPECIALIST 4
Class Code: 172H
Category: Financial Services


Definition

In the Taxpayer Services Division of the Department of Revenue, serves as the senior technical information specialist. Analyzes and interprets laws on complex issues providing a written binding opinion on future tax liabilities. Develops and presents taxpayer educational programs for business, industry trade groups and associations. Creates and updates departmental brochures, special notices and other publications. Provides assistance to Taxpayer Rights Advocate in the resolution of disputes between department staff and taxpayers.

Typical Work

Responds to taxpayers, practitioners, and the general public's requests for tax information, providing written binding opinion of future tax liability, as well as other nonbinding responses over the Internet and telephone;

Drafts executive level correspondence (governor, director, deputy director, and assistant director)

Develops and presents tax workshops for general business and industry specific groups;

Drafts and updates sales and excise tax educational information, prepares manuals and guides discussing both basic and intricate areas of tax law for internal and external use;

Through presentations and written responses, assists Department of Community Trade and Economic Development in promoting the State of Washington to businesses, looking to expand or establish operations in this state;

Assists with drafting, editing, and disseminating departmental publications such as fact sheets, special notices, rule and law books, reference manuals, and quarterly tax publications;

Analyzes legislative bills to determine need and methods of taxpayer education for use in the preparation of fiscal notes;

Responds to Department's public records requests in compliance with RCW 42.17; makes determinations on statutory disclosure requirements and protects confidential taxpayer information;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of: State of Washington Revenue Act if 1935, as amended, and related Washington
Administrative Code regulations; rules, policies and opinions, writings and publications pertaining to the program; tax structure and public finance; methods of determining need for public information and education, state government, departmental organization, programs and functions.

Ability to: analyze complex and factually unique tax questions; write reports and articles clearly and concisely; speak effectively in public; explain basis for tax application to business and industry trade groups and associations or individual taxpayers; travel regularly within the state.

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Desirable Qualifications

One year as a Tax Information Specialist 3. 

OR

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 program/policy analysis which includes two years of excise tax experience.

NOTE:  CPA certification, 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.

Class Specification History

New class adopted December 12, 1997, effective July 1, 1998.
Revise class. Revise class code, title (formerly 15124 Tax Information Specialist 3), general revision; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.

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