06/01/1989 07521

TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE TECHNICIAN

DEFINITION: This is technical work in providing assistance to taxpayers in a Revenue Regional Office or Sub-Office.

Employees in this class are responsible for performing technical assignments which involve independent interpretation and explanation to taxpayers and their representatives of sales, corporation, employer, withholding, personal income, property taxes and the rent rebate program. Work involves researching computerized tax records and tax documents; verifying the tax liability, penalty and interest; preparing documentation requesting a change to the tax liability, penalty and interest; responding verbally or in writing to taxpayer inquiries regarding the application of tax laws, rules, regulations and policies, and providing assistance and guidance to taxpayers in the completion of tax forms and applications for property tax/rent rebate programs. Work also involves traveling to satellite offices and to private sector groups; training tax season personnel and volunteer groups to provide taxpayer assistance, education and public information programs; providing technical assistance to tax season personnel and volunteer groups, and evaluating the effectiveness of the delivery of taxpayer assistance, education and public information programs in the Regional or Sub-office. Employees in this class also make presentations to private sector groups on tax laws, rules, regulations and policies. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Revenue Enforcement Collections Supervisor and is reviewed for conformance to tax laws, rules, regulations and policies and program objectives through conferences and reports.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Researches computerized tax records and tax documents for sales, corporation, employer, personal income, property taxes and rent rebate programs to determine the status of taxpayer accounts.

Verifies tax liability, penalty and interest and explains to taxpayers and their representatives how the tax liability, penalty and interest were determined in accordance with the applicable tax laws, rules, regulations and policies.

Prepares documentation requesting changes to taxpayer liability, penalty and interest based on documents submitted by the taxpayer and/or their representatives.

Responds to taxpayer inquiries either verbally or in writing regarding the application of various tax laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Provides assistance and guidance to taxpayers in the completion of various tax forms and applications for property tax and rent rebate programs and explains the procedures for filing the documents.

Trains tax season personnel and volunteer groups in the provision of taxpayer assistance, education and informational programs, tax laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Provides technical assistance to tax season personnel and volunteer groups in the resolution of problems with the application of tax laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Evaluates the effectiveness of the delivery of taxpayer services, education and public information programs delivered by tax season personnel and volunteer groups by visual observation and the number of complaints or inquiries from taxpayers and/or their representatives.

Makes presentations to private sector groups on the application and interpretation of tax laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Plans and schedules training sessions for tax season personnel and volunteer groups.

Prepares reports on the effectiveness of other delivery of taxpayer assistance, education and public information programs.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of sales, corporation, employer, personal income, property taxes and the rent rebate program rules, regulations, laws, policies and procedures.

Ability to operate a CRT to research computerized tax records and tax documents.

Ability to verify unsolicited tax liability, penalty and interest by applying tax laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Ability to interpret and explain laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures for the taxes and the property tax and rent rebate program to taxpayers and their representatives, tax season personnel and volunteer groups.

Ability to provide technical assistance and train tax season personnel and volunteer groups in the provision of taxpayer assistance, education and public information programs.

Ability to travel to and from satellite offices and private sector groups.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the delivery of taxpayer assistance, education and public information.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with tax season personnel, volunteer groups, taxpayers and their representatives, and private sector groups.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Three years of experience in reviewing tax documents and making taxpayer liability decision and applying tax laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures;

                                                                                                                                                        or

Three years of experience in the collection of taxes;

                                                                                                                                                       or

Any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the required knowledge, skills and abilities.