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Tax inspector

Tax inspector

Alternative titles for this job include Senior tax professional

Tax inspectors make sure the correct amount of tax is paid and that fraud hasn't taken place.

Average salary (a year)

£27,000 Starter

£53,250 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

between 8am and 6pm

How to become a Tax inspector

You can get into this job through:

applying directly

Direct application

You'll need to apply for a place on HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Tax Specialist Programme and have one of the following:

a degree (minimum 2:2) in any subject
an equivalent award like a professional accountancy qualification

HMRC runs an 8-week, paid internship programme for final year degree students.

More information

Further information

Find out more about working for the Civil Service from GOV.UK.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

customer service skills
knowledge of economics and accounting
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
maths knowledge
the ability to work on your own
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
analytical thinking skills
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
Being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

meet UK nationality requirements to apply for jobs in the civil service

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties might include:

examining business accounts
visiting businesses to interview board directors, lawyers and accountants
investigating suspected fraud
offering specialist advice about tax
negotiating settlements
representing HMRC at appeals tribunals
considering and applying tax law to cases
leading a team of caseworkers and administrative staff
managing relationships between HMRC and customers

Working environment

You could work at a client's business or in an office.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move through HMRC's promotion structure to more senior or specialist posts.

You could go into the private sector as a tax adviser, or become a self-employed tax consultant.