[agill11]

I have applied for a revenue tax agent position with the IRS. I am scheduled to take an exam next week. Can someone tell me what to look for or study so that i can prepare myself for the test?

Anthony

 

[Pete]

I took the “special agent test,” so the one I took might be different; however, i'm sure they're pretty similar. In my case, I ended up getting through the first test, then failing the second.

I found the test to be fairly difficult. The first test is a situational/behavioral test. What would you do if you had two deadlines due at the same time? It's hard to know which answer they were looking for and it was very grey. Multiple answers would have worked; it really depended on what the IRS was looking for within that department. For a different organization, the other answers would have worked better. Networking might help as you could determine what traits the organization generally valued/looked for in candidates.

The second test consisted of the first test (ie. what would you do under xyz situations), but it also had contained Financial statement questions. Without an audit background, this section of the test was brutal (ie. which item would likely indicate that a fraud was occurring-a change in xyz related to a change in ABC?). In addition, this section of the test had general math questions, which you might find within a basic college math class; this wouldn't have been too difficult, but YOU HAVE TO CALCULATE EVERYTHING BY HAND, throughout the entire test (not just this section). The numbers they gave were typically fairly difficult to work with and would eat up a lot of time.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[August]

Did you apply for a Special Agent position in the Criminal Investigation Division or for a job as an Internal Revenue Agent.

John described the interview process for a Special Agent. Criminal Investigation's hiring process is more involved and takes longer than the process to become a revenue agent.

Becoming a revenue agent involves passing a computerized simulation and then passing a panel interview. You really cannot prepare for the simulation – just make sure that you take it when it is quiet and that you finish it in one sitting. The interview involves behavioral questions.

You can find a lot of good info on IRS' hiring process in the IRS forum on federalsoup.com

[Pete]

Yes, I believe it would be under the criminal investigation unit (looked it up). In addition to the above tests and a panel interview, I believe you also need to pass a fitness test.

Revenue agent would likely be an easier process, but I've never done it. The first test (the one I passed) is likely the one you'll have to take; it's just a personality test. The test isn't too difficult, but some of the questions are grey (ie. a few “good answers”-either could be correct, depending on their wants).

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[maxb]

Is the IRS hiring? I have a tax background and have passed the exams.

[Author]

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