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.

Conducts independent field examinations of estate and gift tax returns involving legal, financial, investigative or other problems of substantial variety and complexity. The potential tax liability is significant. Determines the nature and extent of the examination to be made of assigned and related returns based on guidelines or information provided by the supervisor or designated senior employee. Assures that all property or interests of deceased persons and all transferred property of donors are disclosed on assigned returns and accurately valued. Applies audit, investigative and valuation techniques, such as reviewing books and records, analyzing complex legal documents, state inheritance tax proceedings and probate records, reviewing appraisals and available valuation data and case law, and securing and critically evaluating information from third parties to ascertain the value of includable and transferred property. Reviews appraisals prepared by taxpayer's experts and determines the value of business interests and real estate for estate and gift tax examinations. Analyzes information obtained and determines proper tax liability. This normally involves research into Federal, state, and local laws and court decisions to resolve questions regarding what property is includable in estates, allowable deductions and credits, and transferred property

Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENT : All GRADES -- SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: To be eligible for this position, at any grade level, applicants must demonstrate the following: Knowledge of Legal Industry, including legal practices, federal codes and regulations, and application of complex legal principles to facts. This knowledge may be met through experience and/or education. To meet this requirement, the applicant must demonstrate the following experience: Substantive knowledge of state and federal laws, judicial decisions and precedents, legal codes, court procedures, legal practices, legal instruments and documents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules specific to tax administration and compliance. Exceptional skill in researching, interpreting, examining, analyzing and applying relevant state and federal laws, regulations, related statutes, and sub-regulatory guidance, sufficient to produce written reports, relevant forms, instructions, explanatory publications, legal memoranda, proposed legislation, and other materials, sufficient to address taxpayer rights and responsibilities, propose tax legislation or regulation, and issue opinions and/or decisions specific to tax administration or compliance. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience GS-11: Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience working in a legal environment whereby you provided technical advice on legal requirements, conducted legal research and analysis, drafted/authored written opinions, decisions, and/or proposals on matters involving federal tax laws, rules, regulations, and practices. Experience must be sufficient to demonstrate- Knowledge of Federal tax laws, various State and foreign laws, judicial decisions, and precedents; Organizing, analyzing, and managing voluminous case information; Skill in researching and evaluating complex legal questions involving state and federal laws; Ability to reach a determination and take appropriate action to impact compliance with federal laws. OR Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education in Law from an Accredited College or University OR a Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree education in Law from an Accredited College or University OR an LL.M from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association OR A combination of education and experience as described above.

Specialized Experience GS-12: Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience working in a legal environment whereby you provided technical advice and guidance on Federal tax law requirements. Experience conducting legal research and analysis on complex Federal and State tax laws. Experience authoring legal opinions, decisions, determinations, or proposals on matters involving federal tax laws, rules, and/or regulations. Experience working with Federal, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer tax laws, including Internal Revenue Code, Tax Regulations, IRS Revenue rulings and procedures and precedent decisions. Experience analyzing and adjudicating tax matters, appeals, settlement offers, or similar work related to Federal tax operations. Specialized Experience GS-13: Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience interpreting and applying tax laws to Federal estate and gift tax returns and interpreting and applying tax laws, judicial decisions, and precedents to fields of law such as wills and trusts, probate, contracts, real and personal property, corporations, commercial law and insurance. Experience researching, evaluating, and responding to complex legal questions to determine tax liability pertaining to Federal estate and gift tax returns. Experience interpreting and explaining complex points of law and valuation matters to legal and factual situations and to persuade highly competent representatives concerning determinations made on tax issues and liability. Experience working with financial, professional or business accounting practices to analyze fiduciary, estate or gift assets (such as intangible factors, large corporation). Specialized Experience GS-14: Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience working all aspects of Federal estate and gift taxation laws and important judicial decision and procedures. experience writing clear and concise reports and work papers that include significant tax issues, findings and analyses of legal and factual situations encountered. Experience