Tax Appeals Specialist 1

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

IPERS

Retirement Investors Club (RIC)

Flexible Working Environment – Work/“W

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Paid Holidays (9 days/year)

Flexible Spending Accounts

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Revenue’s Enforcement Actions and Appeals Bureau seeks two Technical Tax Specialist 1s to work on individual income, business income, and sales tax appeals with a focus on enforcement actions support. This hybrid/remote role emphasizes analytic review, drafting determinations, and effective communication with taxpayers.

Ideal candidates will have strong accounting or auditing backgrounds, experience drafting regulatory determinations, and demonstrated decision-making

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with at least nine semester hours of accounting coursework.
• Three years of full-time work experience in professional accounting or auditing.
• Three years of full-time work experience in professional accounting or auditing; and a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience where thirty semester hours equal one year of experience.
• Master’s degree in accounting or business administration and one year of full-time work experience in accounting or auditing.
• CPA certificate and one year of full-time work experience in accounting or auditing.
• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes three years of fulltime work as a Revenue Examiner 2, Statistical Research Analyst 2, or Management Analyst 2.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Revenue Auditor 2, Revenue Examiner 3, or Statistical Research Analyst 3.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Revenue Auditor 3.

Responsibilities

• Analyzing complex tax issues presented in tax appeals with an objective view and an open mind towards the resolution of disputes.
• Reviewing appeals to determine whether tax billings, refund denials, or other determinations are consistent with law, procedures, and policies.
• Researching tax transaction history, applicable laws and regulations, and working with taxpayers, tax practitioners, Department staff, and the Attorney General’s Office to resolve appeals.
• Drafting memoranda, information requests, and position letters.
• Communicating determinations to taxpayers effectively.
• Making settlement recommendations to supervisor and negotiating case resolution.
• Assisting the Attorney General’s Office with contested case proceedings, including serving as a Department witness.

Skills

Critical Thinking

Customer Service

Writing

Active Learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Master’s degree in Accounting or MBA

CPA certificate

Graduation from a law school

Job description

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Revenue’s Enforcement Actions and Appeals Bureau within the Legal Services Division is currently seeking two Technical Tax Specialist 1s for its individual income, business income, and sales tax functions, which will also support enforcement actions functions. The Enforcement Actions and Appeals Bureau administers appeals for all tax filings, alcohol licensing appeals, and alcohol enforcement actions. The Legal Services Division interprets tax laws for the Department, manages appeals, ensures the Department follows the law, and helps draft and change revenue related laws. It also reviews requests for public records and subpoenas. This position is eligible as a hybrid or remote schedule.

In This Position You Will Be Responsible For

• Analyzing complex tax issues presented in tax appeals with an objective view and an open mind towards the resolution of disputes
• Reviewing appeals to determine whether tax billings, refund denials, or other determinations are consistent with law, procedures, and policies
• Researching tax transaction history, applicable laws and regulations, and working with taxpayers, tax practitioners, Department staff, and the Attorney General’s Office to resolve appeals
• Drafting memoranda, information requests, and position letters
• Communicating determinations to taxpayers effectively
• Making settlement recommendations to supervisor and negotiating case resolution
• Assisting the Attorney General’s Office with contested case proceedings, including serving as a Department witness

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in the following:

• Knowledge and experience in the administration in one or more of the following:
  • Federal and Iowa individual income tax laws and regulations
  • Federal and Iowa business income tax laws and regulations
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• Experience working with the public
• Experience communicating technical information
• Experience drafting written determinations citing regulations, laws, or administrative rules
• Experience identifying errors in data
• Experience determining when to escalate problems
• Demonstrated decision making skills
• Experience with IDR software applications
• 2 or more years of tax auditing or advanced examination experience
• Experience researching tax transaction history and applicable laws

Job Specific Competencies

• Critical Thinking – Applying logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Customer Service – Principles and processes for providing customer services, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluating customer satisfaction
• Writing – Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience
• Active Learning – Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making

Advancement Opportunities

The Tax Appeals Specialist 1 (Technical Tax Specialist 1) classification is part of the Technical Tax Specialist series. Employees that meet or exceed expectations as a Technical Tax Specialist 1 become a Technical Tax Specialist 2. Currently, Technical Tax Specialist 2s with eighteen months of current, continuous experience meet the minimum qualification requirements to apply for a Technical Tax Specialist 3 vacancy.

Employer Highlights

The Iowa Department of Revenue is a well-respected employer. We are focused on providing excellent customer service, while offering a wonderful team atmosphere, work-life balance, free parking, and casual attire. We offer a flexible working environment and opportunities to work from home with the ability to work from anywhere in the State of Iowa as long as it is your primary residence. We have a great total compensation package for all of our full-time employees, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC)
• Flexible Working Environment – Work from Home Opportunities
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Vacation Leave
• Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

Applicants must live within the State of Iowa to qualify for this position.

A background check, including a criminal history check, fingerprint and Iowa tax filing check, will be conducted on the final candidate.

Effective July 1st, 2025, all Department of Revenue staff and their household will not be able to play any Iowa Lottery games.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov .

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• All of the following (a and b):
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree including at least nine semester hours of accounting coursework; and
• Three years of full-time work experience in professional accounting or auditing.
• All of the following (a and b):
• Three years of full-time work experience in professional accounting or auditing; and
• A total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work (as described in number one) equals one year of full-time experience.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in accounting or business administration and one year of full-time work experience in professional accounting or auditing.
• Possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate and one year of full-time work experience in professional accounting or auditing.
• Graduation from an accredited law school.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes three years of fulltime work as a Revenue Examiner 2, Statistical Research Analyst 2, or Management Analyst 2
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes two years of full-time work as a Revenue Auditor 2, Revenue Examiner 3, or Statistical Research Analyst 3.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Revenue Auditor 3.