Career Suggestion

Tax inspector

Tax inspectors make sure the correct amount of tax is paid by individuals, businesses and public organisations.

Average salary (a year)

£30000.0 to £66000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

37.0 to 40.0

You could work

between 8am and 6pm

You can get into this job through applying directly.

Direct Application

You can apply for a place on HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Tax Specialist Programme (TSP) , if you have a degree in any subject, with second class honours or above.

The programme takes 3 to 4 years to complete.

You do not need knowledge of taxation, as this will be covered by the TSP.

You do not need a degree to apply if you are already working in the Civil Service.

More Information

Career Tips

You would work across different HMRC departments during your training programme to get experience in all areas of taxation.

Further Information

You can find out more about working in taxation from Civil Service Careers.

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of economics and accounting
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work on your own
  • maths knowledge
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • excellent written communication skills
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

Day-to-day tasks

As a tax inspector, you could:

  • visit companies to interview directors, lawyers and accountants
  • examine business accounts
  • offer specialist advice on tax
  • make sure businesses and individuals comply with tax regulations
  • negotiate tax settlements
  • investigate suspected fraud and tax evasion
  • represent HMRC at appeals tribunals
  • lead a team of caseworkers and administrative staff
  • manage relationships between HMRC and its customers

Working environment

You could work at a client's business or in an office.

With experience, you could move through HMRC's promotion structure into more senior posts, or specialise in areas like:

  • large business compliance
  • VAT settlements
  • fraud investigation

You could also work in the private sector as a tax adviser, or self-employed tax consultant.

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