Investigator , Lead – Families Tax Credit Division

Investigator 3, Lead

The Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) is seeking to potentially hire an Investigator 3, Lead for its Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) Claims Research Team. This position will serve as a lead on the team for the program assisting Washington State's low-to-moderate-income working families and individuals. The mission of the Claims Research Team is to protect the integrity of the Working Families Tax Credit Program by preventing and detecting financial losses due to fraud or malfeasance.

The Unit uses cross match technology and processes, as well as skip-tracing, tips and leads from the public, referrals from local, state, and federal agencies, to conduct the most complex and difficult investigations of sensitive and controversial cases. The Unit is also responsible for identifying and researching patterns of practice, ongoing patterns of criminal activity, and vendor fraud.

Revenue is a dynamic learning organization where you will experience a remarkable work-life balance, with amazing leadership and talented co-workers ready and focused to achieve the agency's goals. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences. We employ and serve people of all backgrounds, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. This unique culture of respect promotes a professional family of cohesive groups, maximizing potential through opportunity.

We offer a generous benefits package that includes defined benefit retirement plans; health, dental and vision coverage, deferred compensation plans, and as a public service employee, you may also be eligible for student loan forgiveness.

The position will:

• Conduct preliminary assessment of applications, attachments, and fraud indicators.
• Determine requirements needed to authenticate and/or validate applicants.
• Complete requests for applicants to provide additional documentation.
• Make corrections to applications found to contain erroneous information.
• Conduct additional fraud evaluation on applications found to contain erroneous information.
• Investigate complex cases of identity theft, tax credit fraud, dependent fraud, vendor fraud, tips from the public, death records, failure to respond issues, missing employer, and out of country issues.
• Interview applicants, victims, and witnesses regarding identity theft, tax credit fraud, dependent fraud, vendor fraud, tips from the public, death records, failure to respond issues, missing employer, and out of country issues.
• Conduct complex investigations involving more than one claimant, victim, and/or issue including those of possible or probable fraud.
• Verify investigative findings and information using available systems and data sets, including systems and data sets that are Federal Tax Information (FTI).
• Know, apply, and adhere to the IRS safeguarding standards for the use of FTI, including those found in IRS Publication 1075.
• Investigate claimants' reported earnings with employer wage information.
• Adjudicate Working Families Tax Credit eligibility issues in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington, the Washington Administrative Code, and Federal Law.
• Determine if the fraud penalty should apply to invoices.
• Act as a resource for other WFTC staff regarding the validity of documentation provided by applicants such as driver's license, tax returns, etc.
• Answers all questions regarding benefits or available services. Explains available services, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and verification needs.
• Gather and record evidential facts, analyze data, prepare investigative summary reports and letters, and present findings to partner agencies, law enforcement and/or Assistant Attorney Generals for prosecution.
• Testify in administrative hearings. Appear in Superior and District Courts as a witness for the state criminal cases.
• Participate in field evidence collection with partner agencies.
• Approve or deny fraud evaluation cases after conducting a holistic review as per established policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and progressive experience that demonstrates…