How to Prepare and Apply

As a student or recent graduate interested in working as an IRS revenue agent, you must meet specific qualifications, but you have plenty of opportunities to gain relevant experience to set yourself up for success.

All revenue agents must have at least a bachelor’s degree that includes at least 30 semester hours in accounting or 24 semester hours in accounting and an additional six semester hours in related subjects such as business law, economics, statistical or quantitative methods, computerized accounting or financial systems, financial management, or finance.

An applicant may also hold a certificate as a certified public accountant regardless of what degree is held.

If you do not meet these requirements, many other jobs at the IRS may still be a great fit for you.

If you receive a job offer, you must still meet certain conditions of employment.

• You must be a U.S. citizen at the time you apply.
• You must undergo a review of your prior performance and conduct, as well as a verification that you’ve filed and paid all your income taxes.
• You must be fingerprinted and pass a background check.

For more information on how to apply to the IRS, click here.

Most federal agencies use USAJOBS to post available positions. To apply for the revenue agent role, you’ll need to create an account and learn how to use the USAJOBS site.

• Create a USAJOBS profile.
  • This enables you to save searches and job postings and track the status of your application.
• Use filters and preferences to narrow down job opportunities.
  • You can narrow your searches by agency, type of job (also known as a “job series”), location and other categories. The Revenue Agent job series is 0512.
• Read job postings carefully.
  • When you search for revenue agent roles on USAJOBS, you might find job titles that include the word “roster,” such as “9 MONTH ROSTER” or “12 MONTH ROSTER.” This means the agency will look at and choose applications that were submitted for this posting with multiple additional openings over time. You should apply to a posting with this title if you meet the qualifications. It may include different lists of minimum qualifications for various pay grades, called “GS levels,” (The GS stands for “general schedule.”) You may be asked to pick the level that most closely matches your experience. You may also be asked for the city where you’d like to work
  • USAJobs announcements may close earlier than the listed closing date based on the number of applications received, so you should apply as early as possible.
  • Pay close attention to all the details in a job announcement to make sure you’re eligible to apply and are qualified for the position. Make doubly sure that you’ve completed the entire application properly.
  • Read each position description carefully, no matter how long it is. Pay attention to key information, including the eligibility requirements, required documents and how to apply.
• Apply!
  • Click on the “apply” button and follow the steps from there. You will automatically be sent to the agency’s hiring site.
  • Review your information carefully and submit. Sometimes you may have to provide more documentation (especially when claiming veterans preference), answer eligibility questions or an occupational questionnaire, and upload required documents (e.g., your resume).
  • You should receive an email from USAJOBS confirming your application.

USAJOBS has effective filtering tools. You can use them to quickly find early-career job openings at the IRS:

• Early-career revenue agent jobs open to the public
• Other early-career IRS jobs open to the public

For more information on getting started with USAJOBS, click here.

USAJOBS will ask you to upload a resume as part of the application process. The good news is the site has a feature to guide you through building a federal resume. The main thing to note about federal resumes is that they’re longer and more detailed than traditional ones.

Pay careful attention to the job posting. It often has information about what your resume should include and how you’ll be evaluated.

• DON’T worry about limiting your resume to a single page.
• DO be sure to include any experience relevant to the job posting and tailor it to the job requirements.

Tips for building your federal resume:

1. Include roles outside of paid work that highlight your experience. Have you done volunteer work? Are you involved in a student group?
2. Describe your achievements using numbers. Can you use percentages, dollar amounts or other hard numbers to illustrate your achievements?
3. Tailor your resume for each open position. Your knowledge, skills and experience should reflect those of the duties listed in each specific job announcement.
4. Include skills you have that the qualifications section lists, using the same words the announcement uses. The government doesn’t give points for original writing—it scores resumes based on skills and experience that match the job requirements.
5. Be clear, concise and organized.

For more information on federal resumes, visit the Internal Revenue Service or GoGovernment.

The IRS also hosts regular webinars on building a federal resume. Find and register for the next one here.

Jobs in the federal government are organized according to the General Schedule, which is unique to the federal government. Information about a job’s “GS” level is listed in job postings.

GS levels go from 1 to 15. In general, GS-2 roles require a high school diploma; GS-5 roles require a bachelor’s degree; GS-9 roles require a master’s degree. Not all positions require degrees, and some positions may be supplemented with additional work experience. Please read the eligibility section carefully.

Each GS level has 10 steps, each representing a salary increase. Employees advance based on time on the job, their performance and other factors.

Federal salaries are based on GS level and location. Base pay is calculated using an area’s cost of living. Employees in some areas may receive additional pay, known as a locality adjustment. Here is a breakdown in pay for each region.

For more information on the General Schedule and pay at the IRS, click here.

The Pathways Internship Program is for recent graduates and current students in high school, college, graduate school or a qualifying career or technical education program (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps).

Once you complete the program requirements successfully, you become eligible for a full-time position with the federal government. The Pathways program is also a great opportunity to get paid and gain valuable work experience while still in school.

To be eligible, you must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in school, at least part time, or be in a qualifying career or technical educational program.

The most up to date opportunities for the Pathways Internship Programs, Pathways Recent Graduate Programs and Presidential Management Fellows (PMFs) are on the USAJOBS site. To search for these positions, simply type “Pathways,” “recent graduate” or “internship” into the keyword search on the site. Find a more extensive FAQ page here.

Click here to view the IRS’ Pathways Recent Graduate positions currently being offered.

Internships Through Nonprofit Organizations

In addition to the positions you can apply for directly through USAJOBS, there are internships that nonprofit organizations can help you secure.

The Partnership for Public Service’s Federal Internship Finder is the internet’s best source for federal government internships! To find opportunities specific to your interests, narrow down your search with the filters available.

• Click here to visit the Federal Internship Finder homepage. And feel free to share with friends interested in interning at any federal agency!

More resources

• For more tips and resources on applying for a job at the IRS, click here.
• For more resources on applying for other federal job opportunities, visit GoGovernment.
  • TIP: On GoGovernment, click on the top left-hand menu and review the links in the “application process” drop-down. You’ll find useful information to help you with interviewing, negotiation and background checks if you advance beyond the application stage. And we know you will!
• For information on the types of documentation the IRS may ask for in addition to your resume, click here.

Resources for Veterans

If you have served our country in a branch of the armed services, thank you for your service. You may be uniquely qualified for a role in the federal government. For more information on general resources for veterans applying to federal agencies, click here.

For more information on hiring benefits for veterans applying to work at the IRS, click here.

Resources for People with Disabilities:

If you are a person with a disability, you may be eligible for a special hiring authority, called the Schedule A Hiring Authority. Of course, you’re also welcome to apply and compete for any job you’re eligible for, outside of this opportunity. For more information on general resources for people with disabilities, click here.

The Workforce Recruitment Program connects federal employers nationwide with eligible students and recent graduates with disabilities. Managed by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, this program provides  many advantages to job seekers with disabilities. Contact your school’s disability services or career services coordinator early in the spring semester to ensure you successfully complete the online application in time for the annual hiring cycle.

For more information on hiring people with disabilities at the IRS, click here.