More than Tax Work - Attorney IRS Employee Review

4.0
Oct 14, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The general public believes that all attorneys at the IRS do Tax work, yet there are opportunities for just about every type of government administrative law practice at the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. Unlike most federal agencies who rely upon the Department of Justice tor all their trial work, IRS attorneys actually represent the IRS directly in Bankruptcy court, as Special US Attorneys. Moreover, the General Legal Services Division of IRS handles Ethics, Contracts, Labor Law, Approriations law etc. It was the IRS Office of Chief Counsel that successfully resisted a combined government and industry attempt to force taxpayers to use a cumbersome and expensive Public Key Infrastructure electronic signature for tax returns instead of a consume friendly PIN. Of course, if you do want to do tax work, then the IRS is the place for you since you will get more authority and experience in your first five years than at any private tax practice.

Cons

The IRS is the quintessential bureaucracy so you have to have a high tolerance for silly rules. The worst part of being an IRS employee is the general public's antipathy towards you. Nothing has changed since Biblical times when the tax collector was reviled. IRS employees learn early to tell strangers that they work for Treasury

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5.0
Feb 26, 2026
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very good team environment to work.

Cons

None as good to work

3.0
May 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Got me started in my career as an auditor -thorough tax law training -many senior auditors helping you learn the profession

Cons

-communication from management is not always transparent -when you are at the bottom of the ladder, you get verbal abuse from not only POA and taxpayers (understandable, given this is the IRS), but also management/OJI's. They want to look good to their bosses and will throw you under the bus if they have to in order to save themselves. Even if they gave you instructions that got you in trouble. They SHOULD be supporting you in your function as an auditor, but they'll do whatever is easiest for themselves ultimately. -on job training can be disorganized -bureaucratic culture -like many other companies, a lot of things you're expected to learn by yourself. Such as how to avoid POA delays.

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