What is an IRS revenue officer?

On: August 23, 2019

A Revenue Officer is employed by an IRS field collection office. Their job is to collect money. A Revenue Agent, on the other hand, is someone who is employed by the IRS to audit taxpayers. While an Internal Revenue Officer may appear intimidating at first, it is important to understand what this individual’s job is when it comes to your tax problem. The following are the duties imposed on these officers by their employer, the Internal Revenue Service:

1. Educate taxpayers about their tax responsibilities.
2. Utilize analytical and investigative skills to enforce the tax laws.
3. Protect the interests of the federal government and tax-paying public.
4. Collect delinquent tax accounts and secure delinquent tax returns.
5. Conduct research, interviews, and investigations for information. These interviews often take place at the taxpayer’s place of business or residence. Interviews can either be scheduled or unscheduled.
6. Analyze taxpayer financial statements in an attempt to determine the taxpayer’s ability to pay the tax bill.
7. Obtain regular trainings in tax law, business law, investigative techniques, and enforcement procedures.
8. Utilize different courses of action on a case-by-case basis.
9. Consider alternative means of resolving tax debt issues if a taxpayer cannot pay their debt in full. Examples may include setting up payment agreements to allow the taxpayer to pay the bill over time, grant relief from penalties imposed when the tax bill is overdue, or suspend collection of accounts when a financial hardship has been demonstrated.
10. Garnish bank accounts and wages.
11. Seize real and personal property if necessary to satisfy delinquent taxes.
12. Provide guidance and service on various financial problems in order to assist a taxpayer with resolving their tax problems.
13. Inform taxpayers on their rights under the law.
14. Provide taxpayers with quality customer service, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

While the above are the standards a Revenue Officer is supposed to adhere to, many do not do so. The appearance of a Revenue Officer is usually a good cue that it is time to hire a tax professional.