Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

The Work

Inspectors of Taxes may be assigned to a wide range of functional responsibilities including the determination of tax liabilities, assisting in the development of services to taxpayers, taxpayer and company audits, investigative work aimed at combating tax evasion, and staff management.  
 
In their initial assignments they will work with experienced officials and will receive technical training in relation to specific areas of taxation, as required, on an ongoing basis.  
 
They may be required, as part of multi functional teams, to undertake projects in relation to taxation policy, investigate tax avoidance schemes, review tax arrears and provide technical assistance to tax practitioners in the areas of Revenue practice and the interpretation of fiscal legislation covering all taxes.  
 
The inspector needs to become familiar with the type of business involved in the case. In a full, in-depth enquiry, Inspectors of Taxes visit premises and meet people face-to-face, to understand the company's business records and its economics, probing its accounts for potential problems.  
 
Inspectors of Taxes may also analyse a company's computer based records, checking that tax law is being correctly applied. They may be involved in e-commerce, investigating the tax affairs of 'virtual companies' that trade on the Internet.  
 
By examining all the records, the inspector may identify differences between the declared income and the lifestyle of the proprietor. There may be unusual features in the business accounts that do not tie in with what the inspector knows about that trade or the recent performance of the business. Inspectors argue their case in meetings with team members, and through correspondence with or visits to the taxpayer.  
 
Inspectors of Taxes seek explanations and challenge any irregularities in the accounts. As well as meeting the owner or director of a business, an inspector may meet their professional advisers, for example, an accountant or solicitor. Inspectors solve many cases by negotiating with the taxpayer, although some cases must go to a court, in which case the inspector may have to give evidence.  
 
Specialist officers may appoint experienced inspectors to investigate complex cases of fraud or tax avoidance. Inspectors of Taxes are experts on tax law, so they may give advice to lo

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Collect taxes from individuals or businesses according to prescribed laws and regulations.
• Maintain knowledge of tax code changes, and of accounting procedures and theory to properly evaluate financial information.
• Maintain records for each case, including contacts, telephone numbers, and actions taken.
• Contact taxpayers by mail or telephone to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation.
• Send notices to taxpayers when accounts are delinquent.
• Check tax forms to verify that names and taxpayer identification numbers are correct, that computations have been performed correctly, or that amounts match those on supporting documentation.
• Answer questions from taxpayers and assist them in completing tax forms.
• Impose payment deadlines on delinquent taxpayers and monitor payments to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Notify taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment.
• Confer with taxpayers or their representatives to discuss the issues, laws, and regulations involved in returns, and to resolve problems with returns.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

The Inspector of Taxes grade is the highest level at which staff are recruited to the inspectorate stream from which senior posts are filled, see PAS Public appointments service.Competitions held by the Public Appointments Service are advertised in the media. 

-A high level of academic achievement is required (a first or second class honours degree or having qualified as Accountants or Solicitors/Barristers).  

Training & Development pathways 

FET Centre PLC: Accountancy Business & Taxation, Accounting NFQ level 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses 

Apprenticeship & Traineeship: Accounts & Financial services NFQ level 6-9 Search Apprenticeships

Higher education CAO entry: Accounting & Finance, Law & Taxation NFQ level 7-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development 

Tax inspectorate staff and inspectors continue to develop their professional skills and knowledge and technology and finance advances. Qualified Tax professionals can apply for membership of the ITA Irish Tax Institute.

Postgraduate study options: Taxation, Accounting, Economic policy & financial management NFQ postgraduate programmes at NFQ level 9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €33k - €95k

Salaries cary by employer (public/ private), location, role, duties, and experience. State Civil Service Salaries range from Clerical-Principal Officer.

Data Source(s):
PAS / Payscale/ Morgan McKinley/ Lincoln/ Sigmar/ Forsa

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment in this occupation has been growing annually since 2019, resulting in an above average annual employment growth rate. The professional activities sector accounted for the largest share of employment at 46%, with industry and the financial activities sectors combined accounting for a further 26%. There was a 4% increase in the number of online job adverts for this occupation in 2022 and a sharp rise in the number of employment permits issued from 336 in 2021 to almost 1,000 in 2022 (this was in line with a significant increase in total permits issued in this timeframe); most permits issued were for the financial sector in auditing roles.

The Recruitment Agency Survey identified issues with recruiting various accountancy roles (e.g. financial, tax, practice, insurance) in the financial sector. With such a large occupation, demand is likely to be strong for this role due to replacement demand alone. Upskilling/reskilling will be required for many of those currently employed to adapt to changing skills profiles as a result of digitalisation/AI, climate change (e.g. understanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices/criteria), and changing regulation (e.g. Brexit).

Government admin occupations 

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows. There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation.

While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills

• Irish Tax Institute

  • South Block, Longboat Quay, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2
  • (01) 663 1700
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Revenue Commissioners - Careers

  • Click Here