Payroll Tax Specialist

Payroll Tax Specialist

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

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

In this role, you will take ownership of a high-impact multistate payroll tax compliance project focused on resolving outstanding tax notices, restoring access to state tax portals, and ensuring accurate registrations and filings across approximately 35 states. This opportunity is ideal for a detail-oriented payroll professional who enjoys research, problem-solving, and driving complex projects to completion.

• Take ownership of a meaningful payroll tax compliance initiative
• Gain exposure to payroll tax requirements across approximately 35 states
• Partner directly with Finance, Tax, and HR leadership
• Play a key role in researching, resolving, and improving existing compliance processes
• Make an immediate impact within a growing organization

As the Payroll Tax Specialist, you will:

• Review state payroll tax accounts and restore access to online tax portals by working directly with state agencies.
• Research and resolve outstanding payroll tax notices, registrations, filing discrepancies, and compliance issues.
• Analyze historical payroll records, tax filings, and prior payroll provider data to identify and address compliance gaps.
• Communicate with state tax authorities regarding outstanding balances, penalties, interest assessments, and other tax matters.
• Track and document tax notices, deadlines, balances due, and resolution progress.
• Assist with bringing state and local employment tax filings into compliance, including withholding and unemployment insurance requirements.
• 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 resolution strategies.
• Maintain organized documentation and records that support ongoing payroll tax compliance.
• Partner with Finance, Tax, and HR teams to provide project updates and support a smooth transition of responsibilities upon project completion.

• Previous experience in payroll tax administration, payroll compliance, or multistate payroll processing.
• Working knowledge of state payroll tax requirements, including withholding and unemployment insurance regulations.
• Experience researching and resolving payroll tax notices, discrepancies, and compliance issues.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate historical records and identify effective 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 items to resolution.

• Experience managing payroll tax registrations across multiple states.
• Familiarity with third-party administrator (TPA) authorizations and payroll tax filing requirements.
• Experience with BambooHR or similar payroll platforms.
• Experience supporting payroll tax audits, compliance remediation projects, or tax reconciliations.
• Background working in a multistate or high-volume payroll environment.

We're seeking a resourceful and persistent payroll professional who enjoys rolling up their sleeves to solve problems. The ideal candidate is comfortable researching historical issues, communicating with state agencies, navigating complex compliance requirements, and seeing projects through to completion.

You don't need to know the tax requirements of every state from memory, but you should be confident finding answers, asking the right questions, and managing issues until they are fully resolved.

This position is an excellent fit for someone who enjoys investigative work, values accuracy, and takes pride in bringing organization and compliance to complex payroll tax environments.

If you're an experienced Payroll Tax Specialist…