Don't Mess With Taxes

Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash

The U.S. jobs report today was way better than expected.

Employers added 263,000 jobs. That meant that the country's unemployment rate held at 3.7 percent. That's just a couple of minuscule notches higher than the half-century low of 3.5 percent.

Wages are up, too. The October-to-November average hourly earnings crept up 0.6 percent, making it the strongest month-to-month gain since January.

The latest hiring data has left economists, the Federal Reserve, and stock managers at a loss. One of the persistent questions as unemployment remains low is why so many businesses are still scrambling to find workers.

One of the answers is that a combination of early retirements, reduced immigration, COVID-19 deaths, and a shortage of affordable child care has produced a hiring crisis perfect storm.

IRS is hiring: Among those looking for a way out of this personnel squall is the Internal Revenue Service.

Flush with new funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal tax agency is looking to onboard hundreds of new staff.

Republicans, who will take control of the House when the 118th Congress convenes in January, plan to revoke the $80 billion over 10 years the Inflation Reduction Act provided the IRS. The Senate, however, won't go along. It remains under Democratic control. So GOP House members are looking at ways they can increase their oversight of IRS spending.

The IRS, all too aware of how it's a perennial pollical football, would like to get new employees lined up before the Capitol Hill wrangling over its staff commences. So the agency is holding several virtual and in-person hiring sessions in December and early January 2023.

These include information sessions and job fairs with details on open positions. If you're interested, here's what is ahead, listed by the types of job openings, in the coming days.

Clerks and tax examiners: The IRS is conducting in-person sessions in Ogden, Utah, and Memphis, Tennessee, for individuals interested in clerks and tax examiner jobs. These positions do not require any prior tax experience; the IRS says it will provide comprehensive training to new hires.

These jobs will require those hired to work at the appropriate service center. The IRS will review resumes and qualifying applicants on-the-spot. So update your C.V. and click on the links below to register for the location that interests you.

Ogden, Utah on Dec. 7 or Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time both days.
Memphis, Tennessee on Jan. 4 or 5, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time both days.

Tax examiners, collection contacts: At this virtual information session, the IRS' Small Business/Self Employed (SB/SE) division will be looking to hire tax examining technicians and collection contact representatives. Applicants will hear from SB/SE managers about these positions, what to expect day-to-day, and how to qualify for them. Register for the Dec. 12 event, which starts at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Shared administrative associates: The IRS is hiring more than 200 shared administrative associates nationwide. During this online event, interested applicants will learn more about this position's basic job duties, as well as more on an administrative associate's day-to-day duties. Register for the Dec. 5 event, which will begin at 3 p.m. Eastern Time

Revenue officers: The IRS has more than 300 revenue officer openings across the United States. At this virtual event, current revenue officers will discuss their jobs and provide information on the work they do day to day. Register for Dec. 6 session, which starts at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

Info only, for now: The IRS also is holding some virtual events to provide hiring information, as well as a job overview for positions it isn't yet ready to fill.

Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A): This virtual session is a look at the IRS' commitment to hiring a qualified, diverse workforce throughout the agency. Schedule A Hiring Authority for people with disabilities is an exception to the traditional federal hiring process. It streamlines the hiring process and, in some instances, hiring officials may select solely from a list of qualified Schedule A applicants. In this virtual session, the IRS will provide an overview of the Schedule A hiring program and documentation requirements, IRS benefits, and how eligible applicants can apply for the positions with the IRS. Resume tips also will be offered. Register for the Dec. 7 event, which begins at 1 p.m. Eastern Time

Revenue agents: Although the IRS does not currently have any open revenue agent positions, it expects to be hiring for these mid-level career positions nationwide within the coming months. This online event will provide information on revenue agent roles, with presentations from managers in the Field Exam Division of SB/SE. Virtual attendees also will receive information on the qualifications for these positions. Click on either of the two scheduled sessions below to register.

Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time
Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time

If you're not looking to work for the IRS now, but think that might be a possibility in the future, bookmark IRS.gov's Find A Job webpage.

You can search for a specific job type opening, browse available featured jobs, or keep track of upcoming IRS job and employment related events.

You also might find these items of interest:

• IRS posts digital 'help wanted' sign for 700 more staff
• IRS seeking VITA and TCE volunteers for 2023 tax season
• IRS blast from troubled past tapped as next commissioner
• IRS plans to end tax backlog by shifting jobs, hiring 10,000 new staff

Advertisements