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Tax Specialist

Location: Bartow, FL

Department: $20.00/hr $41,600.00-$60,217.59

Type: Full Time

Min. Experience: Entry Level

Position Summary:

The Tax Specialist is responsible for providing the public with courteous, accurate, and timely customer service in the process of current, delinquent, ad valorem, and non-ad valorem tax payments. This person facilitates changes and corrections to the current property tax roll and investigates customer inquiries and responds either in-person, by phone, mail, or email. The Tax Specialist determines the customers’ needs and acts as an advocate to guarantee their transaction is completed within Florida Statutes, Department of Revenue (DOR) rules and regulations and Polk County ordinances.

The most essential skill is attitude and includes the following: positive interaction & cooperation with co-workers, responding politely to customers, working as a team member, function under intense time pressure and responding in a positive manner to supervision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Note: May perform other related duties and task, as required.

  • Answer incoming calls, property tax (Tax), business tax (BT) and tourist development tax (TDT).
  • Process:
    • Payments for Tax, BT, and TDT.
    • Applications for BT and TDT.
    • Refunds for processing, Tax, BT and TDT.
    • Tax deed application redemptions, (Tax).
    • Partial payments, including bankruptcy.
    • Transfer of certificates and purchase of tax certificates.
    • Credit card transactions for Tax, BT and TDT transactions.
    • Certificate of corrections to the Tax roll.
    • Homestead Back Assessment taxes.
    • Pro-rations and Orders of Taking (eminent domain) in taxes.
    • ISF (bad) checks.
    • Online Payments.
    • Comment cards.
  • Accounting Desk – Balance for all tills
  • Assist with corrections, Tax, BT and TDT
  • Return incorrect customer payments, Tax, BT and TDT
  • Prepare the installment tax roll, Tax.
  • Update address changes, Tax, BT and TDT.
  • Customer inquiries, correspondence including email.
  • Roll Maintenance – Tax, BT, TDT including status code changes, coding and verifying partial payment affidavits.
  • Perform tax searches.
  • Research the internet regarding address changes, Tax, BT and TDT.
  • Send new property owner letters.
  • Investigate tax payments that are received without a corresponding tax bill.
  • Assist with opening mail, Tax, BT, and TDT.
  • Send tax deed warning letters.
  • Tracking and distribution of overnight mail including Fed Ex, UPS or other.
  • Mortgage company processing.
  • Records retention tracking for Taxes.
  • Purchasing.
  • Assist in Service Centers. This may require additional training.
  • Assist with Courier Run.

Job Requirements and Qualifications:

Education and Experience Requirements:

  • Requires a high school diploma or general education degree and one year customer service experience.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

  • Valid Florida driver’s license or be able to obtain one at time of employment.
  • Board of County Commissioner’s defensive driving certificate obtained upon employment, if needed.

Skills and Knowledge:

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills are necessary.
  • Must possess strong problem solving skills.
  • Ability to prepare reports, projects and documents.
  • Skilled in researching, collecting and interpreting data.
  • Strong mathematical skills.
  • Must display a positive and helpful attitude.
  • Must be highly dependable and motivated.
  • Must have the ability to effectively manage multiple projects at the same time.
  • Must be able to provide the public with competent, courteous and accurate customer service.
  • Strong time management skills – timely processing of current, delinquent, ad valorem, and non-ad valorem taxes.
  • Displays a good working knowledge of the published procedures and regulations governing the TCPC.
  • Provide excellent customer service while handling a large number of complex customer transactions.

Working Conditions:

  • Climate controlled environment with a moderate noise level.

Physical Demands:

  • Lift 25 pounds
  • Stand, squat or walk
  • Sit for long periods
  • Manual dexterity
  • Hear at normal level or with accommodation
  • Vision at normal range or with accommodation

ADA Compliance: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


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MILITARY RECORD
Were you in the U.S. Armed Forces?
If yes, what branch?
Did you receive any training in the U.S. Armed Forces that is relevant to this office?
VETERANS' PREFERENCE
Are you claiming Veterans' Preference?
Veterans' Preference Form can be found on PolkTaxes.com; click on Careers and scroll down to Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference is awarded for selection procedures taken and passed, providing this and all required documentation will need to be uploaded below. Do not mail your documents to the Human Resources Office. Preference will not be awarded retroactively.
Have you entered into covered employment by a covered employer after having claimed preference since October 1, 1987?
If yes, give name of employer(s)
DRIVING RECORD
Do you have a valid driver's license?
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If yes, please explain (include when, where and what action was taken)
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CRIMINAL HISTORY
Have you ever been convicted of, or pled guilty, no contest or nolo contendere to a crime?
If yes, give details (date, place, offense(s), disposition, etc)
Have you even been charged with a crime and either been placed on a court-ordered probation, had adjudication withheld, or entered a pre-trial intervention program.
If yes, give details (date, place, offense(s), disposition, etc)
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REFERENCES
Please provide three references below - persons not related to you, whom you have known for at least one year

1st Reference Name, Email, Phone Number, Occupation, Years Acquainted, Relation*
2nd Reference Name, Email, Phone Number, Occupation, Years Acquainted, Relation*
3rd Reference Name, Email, Phone Number, Occupation, Years Acquainted, Relation
SHARED VALUES are those personal qualities and traits that, as a member of the Tax Collector’s Office for Polk County we individually and collectively believe are essential in fulfilling our Mission and Vision.

Our shared values are: Integrity, Innovation, Accountability, Compassion and Teamwork*
I hereby certify that all of the facts and information listed on this appointment application are true and complete. I understand that any false, incomplete or misleading information given by me on this application is sufficient cause for rejection of this application. I also understand and agree that any such false, incomplete, or misleading information discovered on this application at any time after I am employed may result in my dismissal.*
I hereby authorize the Tax Collector to investigate all statements contained in this application, to interview the references and previous employers listed in this application, and to obtain a report from a consumer reporting agency to be used for employment purposes in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I authorize the references and previous employers listed to give the Tax Collector all facts, opinions and evaluations concerning my previous employment and any other information they may have, personal or otherwise, and release all such parties from any liability which may allegedly arise from furnishing such information to the Tax Collector, including, but not limited to, any liability for defamation or invasion of privacy.*
If I am offered appointment, I understand that such an offer will be conditioned upon satisfactory results of a background investigation and/or Tax Collector medical examination or inquiry, including a drug screen test. If then employed, I understand that I will be required to serve a 180 day probationary period. I further understand that my appointment and compensation can be terminated, with or without cause or notice, at any time, regardless of the successful completion of my probationary period, at the option of either the Tax Collector or myself. I understand that no supervisor or other representative of the Tax Collector other than the Tax Collector has any authority to enter into any agreement for appointment for any specified period of time, or to make any agreement contrary to the foregoing.*
I further understand and voluntarily agree as a condition of appointment of my continued appointment, that I may be requested by the Tax Collector to submit to a urinalysis or other drug screen test and that my failure to take such test(s) when requested to do so or unsatisfactory test results will disqualify me from consideration for appointment, or if I am than appointed, may result in my immediate dismissal.*
Initial and Date - MM/DD/YYYY - By initialing and dating below I am providing my electronic signature*
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