Tax Program Assistant

Tax Program Assistant performs a variety of clerical, research, processing and public contact work in the County Tax Department. An employee in this class performs a variety of advanced clerical duties in support of County tax functions. Employees are expected to perform at the journeyman level requiring knowledge of collections, listing or valuation programs, and to have a general knowledge of the full tax process.

Duties include assisting the public in a variety of transactions, maintaining and updating records. Independent judgment must be exercised in applying laws, policies and procedures to specific situations. Considerable tact and courtesy must be exercised in dealing with the public on tax questions and advanced customer service skills are required at all times. Work is performed under general and direct supervision;

however, the employee is often assigned to work independently on a specific tax functions under limited supervision. Work is evaluated through conferences and overall effectiveness of work performed.

• Work will include attending to the public at a counter or over the telephone giving information regarding departmental operations and answering questions on programs, procedures, and regulations.
• Responds to complaints and irate taxpayers in person, on the phone, or via email
• Assists taxpayers, mortgage companies, attorneys’ offices, and others with questions on property valuations, tax bills, tax listings, and other procedures.
• Enters a variety of data into various tax software; retrieves information upon request; and generates a variety of records and reports from the computer.
• Assists public with filing applications for elderly or disability exemptions/bond cards as well as church, builders’ inventory, circuit breaker, and the military exemptions, affix parcel numbers to documents for recording in the Office of the Register of Deeds.
• Researches information on a variety of forms of property to contact, discover, and bill unlisted property.
• Explaining policy and procedures for making corrections on incorrect listings
• Performing specialized collections and listing functions such as determining statuses for motor vehicles and creating motor vehicle bills.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• One (1) year of related work experience;
• Or equivalent education and/or experience

Successful completion of the North Carolina Fundamentals of Property Tax Listing and Assessing Course or the North Carolina Fundamentals of Property Tax Collection Course within 24 months from date of hire.

• Considerable knowledge of the procedures, laws, forms and records used in the listing, assessment, billing or collections functions.
• General knowledge of the full tax process affecting the public.
• Skill and knowledge in automated systems and their applications in the tax office.
• Skill in data entry and retrieval
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to make arithmetical calculations and handle money accurately.
• Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the general public in explaining tax laws and policies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to maintain accurately records and reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work.

Must be able to perform sedentary work and occasionally exerting up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. This work also involves the physical abilities of perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, lifting, using mental acuity, reaching, performing repetitive motion, speaking, standing, and expressing ideas by the spoken word. An incumbent must also possess the visual acuity to analyze data, work with numbers, and use a computer.

The employee works inside in an office type of environment.