Exam Bulletin - Associate Tax Auditor, Board of Equalization

CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration

Exam Code: EX-1608

Examination Plans Included:

  • ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION - Promotional

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION: $6,264.00 - $8,238.00 per Month

View the ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Promotional Examination(s):

  • ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION - Promotional

In addition to meeting the Minimum Qualifications, competition is limited to individuals who meet at least one of the following filing criteria:

  • 1. Have a permanent civil service appointment with a promotional testing department (see Testing Departments), or
  • 2. Are current or former employees of the legislature for 2 or more years as defined in Government Code 18990, or
  • 3. Are current or former non-elected exempt employees of the executive branch for 2 or more consecutive years as defined in Govt. Code 18992, or
  • 4. Are persons retired from the United States military honorably discharged from active duty with a service disability or honorably discharged from active duty as defined in Government Code 18991. Applicants must provide a copy of discharge papers (DD 214) for verification purposes at the time of application.

Under certain circumstances other employees may be allowed to compete under provisions of Rules 234, 235 and 235.2. California Code of Regulations Rules 233, 234, 235.2 and 237 contain provisions regarding civil service status and eligibility for promotional examinations.

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1608

For ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01608

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104281 - ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Experience applicable to one of the following patterns may be combined, on a proportional basis, with experience applicable to another pattern to meet the total experience requirement.

Either 1

One year of experience in California state service performing duties at a level equivalent to Tax Auditor, Board of Equalization, Range B. (Promotional candidates within six months of satisfying this requirement will be admitted to the examination but must fully meet the requirement before being considered eligible for appointment.)

Or 2
Three years of professional experience in government, commercial, or public auditing performing analytical or critical examination of records or books of account with responsibility for laying out audit programs and determining verification procedures to be used in determining the scope of work to be performed, at least one year of which shall have been equivalent in responsibility to that involved in making the more difficult field or office audits. (Experience in California state service applied toward this pattern must include one year of experience at a level equivalent to Tax Auditor, Board of Equalization, Range B.)

Position Description

00104281 - ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

This is the full journey level in the series. Incumbents, under general direction, either: (1) conduct the more difficult and complex audits, which may include leading lower level auditors; or (2) in a Headquarters unit, review field audit reports or petitions for redetermination and claims for refund; prepare summaries and statements of fact for use in hearings or court proceedings; and correspond and discuss the application of tax laws with taxpayers, attorneys, accountants, and District office staff.

Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to travel and work odd hours away from the office.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. General accounting and auditing principles and procedures and business law
  2. Specialized practices and procedures used in tax auditing
  3. Provisions of the tax laws administered by the State Board of Equalization, related legal opinions and court decisions, and departmental policies, rules, and regulations
  4. Organization of the State Board of Equalization, particularly the tax auditing programs.
Ability to:
  1. Apply the required knowledge
  2. Conduct audits or financial examinations of taxpayer's accounts and records 
  3. Meet with and obtain the cooperation of persons subject to tax or regulation 
  4. Create and maintain an atmosphere of good will in beginning and completing an audit and disclosing findings critical in nature 
  5. Analyze data and draw sound conclusions
  6. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action 
  7. Prepare clear, complete, and concise reports
  8. Communicate effectively

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Promotional eligible list for the ASSOCIATE TAX AUDITOR, BOARD OF EQUALIZATION Classification will be established for:

  • CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference is not granted for promotional examinations.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Associate Tax Auditor, Board of Equalization Training and Experience Exam Preview

Section 1: Tasks

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing 25 specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

  1. Maintaining confidential information to protect the taxpayer’s and the department’s information.
  2. Working independently to effectively complete assignments.
  3. Communicating effectively orally and in writing.
  4. Effectively completing multiple assignments and meeting deadlines.
  5. Using various computer software programs including Word, Access, Outlook, and Excel.
  6. Communicating with taxpayers in a clear, concise, and courteous manner.
  7. Performing basic mathematical functions related to audit techniques for process.
  8. Utilizing methods to verify the amount of taxes that have been paid.
  9. Reading and interpreting complex tax regulations and laws (e.g., audit manual, sales and use tax law annotations, sales and use tax law guides, etc.)
  10. Remaining flexible to adapt to changes in priorities and work assignments.
  11. Applying knowledge of the audit process and the order of operations to work independently and efficiently.
  12. Applying knowledge of audit procedures as defined by the department’s audit manual.
  13. Analyzing data to reach logical conclusions.
  14. Using appropriate grammar and spelling to communicate tax-related information.
  15. Retrieving the appropriate information from the books of record.
  16. Identifying mistakes and errors (e.g., miscalculations, incorrect applications of laws) in taxpayer books and records.
  17. Tracking deadlines to ensure no time limits are unduly exceeded when priorities and working conditions change.
  18. Educating taxpayers on applicable tax laws and methods of reporting taxes.
  19. Keeping taxpayers informed to ensure they are part of the audit process and findings.
  20. Gaining and maintaining the confidence and cooperation of peers, external parties, and all levels of management.
  21. Effectively communicating with diverse individuals who may have limited knowledge of tax law.
  22. Conducting research via the internet to collect tax-related information.
  23. Training department staff on audit process and procedures.
  24. Effectively using interview techniques to elicit relevant responses to questions from taxpayers.
  25. Explaining audit reports in narrative form to all parties involved.

Testing Departments

  • CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@CalHR.CA.GOV

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration
Hiring and Examination Unit
450 N Street, MIC: 00
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 309-0100
Exams@cdtfa.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)