Payroll Tax Specialist

Location: Denver, CO
Work Arrangement: 100% On-Site
Pay Rate: $32–$40/hour

We are partnering with an established, growing organization seeking an experienced Payroll Tax Specialist for an immediate contract opportunity in Denver!

This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented payroll professional who enjoys problem-solving, researching discrepancies, and taking ownership of projects from start to finish.

The Payroll Tax Specialist will play a key role in a multistate payroll tax compliance project, helping resolve outstanding tax notices, restore access to state tax portals, and ensure accurate registrations and filings across approximately 35 states.

If you're someone who enjoys digging into the details, navigating state tax requirements, and seeing tangible results from your work, this could be a great opportunity!

• Opportunity to take ownership of a high-impact compliance project

• Exposure to payroll tax requirements across approximately 35 states

• Work directly with Finance, Tax, and HR leadership

• Hands-on opportunity to research, resolve, and improve existing processes

As the Payroll Tax Specialist, you will:

• Review state payroll tax accounts and regain access to online tax portals, working directly with state agencies to resolve access issues.

• Research and resolve outstanding payroll tax notices, registrations, and filing discrepancies.

• Review historical payroll records, tax filings, and prior payroll provider information to identify and address compliance gaps.

• Communicate directly with state tax authorities to resolve outstanding balances, penalties, interest assessments, and other compliance matters.

• Track and document tax notices, deadlines, outstanding amounts, and resolution progress.

• Assist with bringing state and local employment tax filings into compliance, including withholding and unemployment insurance.

• Coordinate with the organization's payroll provider to establish third-party administrator access and filing authorizations across applicable states.

• Investigate historical payroll tax issues and determine appropriate next steps for resolution.

• Maintain organized records and develop documentation to support ongoing payroll tax compliance.

• Partner with Finance, Tax, and HR teams to provide updates and ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities once the project is completed.

The ideal Payroll Tax Specialist will have:

• Previous experience in payroll tax administration, payroll compliance, or multistate payroll.

• Working knowledge of state payroll tax requirements, including withholding and unemployment insurance.

• Experience researching and resolving payroll tax notices, discrepancies, or compliance issues.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate historical records and identify solutions.

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Confidence communicating directly with state tax agencies and navigating complex administrative processes.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, payroll systems, and online tax portals.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow through on outstanding issues.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing payroll tax registrations across multiple states.

• Familiarity with third-party administrator authorizations and payroll tax filing requirements.

• Experience with BambooHR or similar payroll platforms.

• Previous experience with payroll tax audits, compliance clean-up projects, or tax reconciliations.

• Experience working in a multistate or high-volume payroll environment.

The successful Payroll Tax Specialist is someone who is resourceful, persistent, and comfortable rolling up their sleeves to get things done.

We're looking for a true problem-solver who can connect the dots, research historical issues, communicate with state agencies, and follow through until outstanding matters are resolved.

You don't need to know every state's tax requirements off the top of your head, but you should be confident researching issues, asking the right questions, and navigating complex processes.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a hands-on environment, enjoys investigative work, and takes pride in bringing organization and accuracy to challenging situations.

If you're an experienced Payroll Tax Specialist looking for a short-term…