Tax Law Specialist (Tax Exempt Bond Specialist)

Summary

WHAT IS TAX EXEMPT & GOVERNMENT ENTITIES?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

• Position(s) are to be filled in the following area(s):
  • TEGE - Exempt Organizations and Government Entities - Tax Exempt Bonds (TEB), Technical Group.

Duties

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.

• Serves as a subject matter expert on technical matters relating to tax-advantaged bonds and municipal finance with respect to all aspects of the TEB program including voluntary compliance, enforcement, data analysis, education and outreach. Prepares technical responses to inquiries submitted by members of Congress, taxpayers, authorized representatives, government agencies and other external customers. Coordinates technical issues and case related matters with the Offices of Chief Counsel and Appeals when appropriate. Develops audit and other procedural guidelines and provides other forms of written and oral technical assistance to examiners.
• Evaluates and resolves voluntary compliance cases. When assigned to the TEB Voluntary Closing Agreement Program, the incumbent confers with customers and representatives to explain financial, legal and other significant issues involved and the applicability of pertinent tax laws, regulations, and related filing requirements and explains corrective actions required or adjustments to promote future compliance.
• Leads various teams, task forces and other group efforts impacting high-priority projects and programs including voluntary compliance, enforcement and education programs.
• Leads the analysis of information relating to bond issues and other financial market data from internal and external sources in order to develop classification programs for the selection of returns for examination. Reviews the efforts of examiners, tax law specialists and analysts in the selection of returns.
• Researches and analyzes data including return information, compliance examination results, questionnaire responses, and external market informational databases to identify trends, issues and problems. Identifies previously unknown potential areas of noncompliance requiring policy determinations, legal interpretations or law changes to promote voluntary compliance.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Probationary Period - All newly appointed employees to the competitive (or excepted) service are subject to a probationary (or trial) period. During this time, your performance, conduct, and suitability for continued employment will be evaluated. You will not automatically convert to permanent status at the end of the probationary (or trial) period. Your supervisor must affirmatively determine that continued employment is in the best interest of the Federal service. If no certification is made before the probationary (or trial) period ends, your appointment will be terminated. You are encouraged to actively engage with your supervisor, seek feedback, and understand role expectations. Additional guidance and support will be provided during onboarding.
• Government Credit Card - Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.

• U.S Citizenship - Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Selective Service Registration - Males born after December 31, 1959 are required to be registered with the Selective Service System or prove they are exempt from having to do so.
• Personal Identity Verification (PIV) - Must provide 2 forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Specialized Experience GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Legal, tax accounting, or other experience that required knowledge of Federal tax laws, regulations, precedent decisions, or other areas related to the position to be filled. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Preparing, reviewing, or applying rulings, advisory letters, memoranda, etc. related to Federal taxation.
• Analyzing and adjudicating tax claims, appeals, settlement offers, or similar work related to Federal tax operations.
• Work as an attorney that required legal research, analysis, and preparation of briefs or similar documents interpreting laws and regulations.
• Work as an accountant, auditor, or investigator that required application of Federal tax accounting principles and/or the Internal Revenue Code and related laws.

• Worked as an attorney that required legal research, analysis, and preparation of briefs or similar documents interpreting laws and regulations related to compliance with complex Federal taxation of tax advantaged bond rules that include tax credit and tax exempt bond issuances.
• Provided legal opinions with respect to the validity of tax advantaged bonds, particularly the federal tax treatment of interest on tax advantaged bonds and advising on legal tax questions and public finance transactions.
• Tax legal writing experience applicable for analyzing and responding to request for interpretation of Internal Revenue legislation and regulations, private letter rulings, revenue rulings, technical advice memoranda, Chief Counsel advice and other advice memoranda dealing with Federal taxation of tax advantaged bonds.
• Performing analytical services related to the structuring of municipal financings including tax advantaged bonds and other financial products beyond traditional tax advantaged bonds including: Short-Term Debt and Cash Flow Management which include Tax Anticipation Notes, Revenue Anticipation Notes, Bond Anticipation Notes, and Commercial Paper. Leases & Asset Financing: Certificates of participation, and Lease-Purchase Agreements. Derivatives & Risk Management Products: Interest Rate Swaps, Guaranteed Investment Contracts, Letters of Credit, and Liquidity Facilities, Direct Bank & Specialized Financings: Bank Loans, and Direct Placements.
• Interacts and negotiates effectively with governmental entities and their representatives in accounting, legal, tax and other similar municipal finance-related professions to address compliance with Federal tax exempt and tax credit bonds.

AND
You must also meet the following requirements:

• MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Minimum age for federal employment is 18 years old, or at least 16 years old and have:
  • Graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or
  • Completed a formal vocational training program; or
  • Received a statement from school authorities agreeing with your preference for employment rather than continuing your education.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).

Additional information

Suitability Requirements:

• Prior IRS Employment - Former employees will be subject to a screening of their prior conduct with the Service. The Taxpayer First Act of 2019, 26 U.S. Code 7804, prohibits the IRS from rehiring certain former employees who were removed from service.
• Tax Check - Must undergo a review of income tax verification. To check the status of your tax record go to: (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript). If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.
• Fingerprint/Criminal History Check - This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information regarding your rights refer to Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).

• Consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a location, that location will become your official post of duty.
• In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.
• Additional jobs may be filled from this announcement or any other source to fill these vacancies.
• Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours may be available.
• Use of a camera application may/will be required to participate in the interview process.
• Salary: General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.