WE’RE HIRING SPECIAL AGENTS NOW!
Click here to apply today!
Who are we?
Criminal Investigation (CI) is the law enforcement branch of the IRS. Our mission is to serve the American public by investigating potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code, and related financial crimes, in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law.
As a Special Agent you will combine your accounting skills with law enforcement skills to investigate financial crimes. Special Agents are duly sworn law enforcement officers who are trained to "follow the money." No matter what the source, all income earned, both legal and illegal, has the potential of becoming involved in crimes which fall within the investigative jurisdiction of the IRS Criminal Investigation. Because of the expertise required to conduct these complex financial investigations, IRS Special Agents are considered the premier financial investigators for the Federal government.
Criminal Investigation Special Agents are part of a diverse workforce that mirrors the taxpaying public we serve.
To learn more about us visit our Criminal Investigation page or read our 2021 annual report.
Key Requirements
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be 21 years of age by the time that you complete the training academy and no older than 37 years of age at time of appointment.
- Qualify based on education, specialized experience, or a combination of the two.
- Possess a valid driver’s license.
- Pass a background and criminal history record check.
- Pass a pre-employment medical exam.
- Pass a pre-employment drug test.
- Pass a pre-employment tax examination.
- Be legally allowed to carry a firearm.
Major Duties
- Adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially in maintaining honesty and integrity.
- Work a minimum of 50 hours per week, which may include irregular hours, and be on-call 24/7, including holidays and weekends.
- Maintain a level of fitness necessary to effectively respond to life-threatening situations on the job.
- Be willing and able to participate in arrests, execution of search warrants, and other dangerous assignments.
- Carry a firearm; must be prepared to protect him/herself or others from physical attacks at any time and without warning and use firearms in life-threatening situations; must be willing to use force up to and including the use of deadly force.
About the Application Process
Step 1: Identify and apply for a position at USAJOBS.gov. Review the qualification requirements, respond to eligibility questions, and submit all necessary supporting documents (resume, transcripts, etc.).
Step 2: Manual Qualifications. The information you entered and supporting documentation (resume, transcripts, etc.) is reviewed to confirm that you qualify to advance in the hiring process. Ensure the submitted documentation supports the qualification requirements for the position.
Step 3: Interview. If selected to move forward to this step, the interview will be conducted by a panel of senior management.
Step 4: Tentative Offer of Employment. Following the interview, if you are referred for employment, your qualifications will go through a final verification by an IRS human resource specialist. After verification you will receive a tentative offer of employment via email. This tentative offer will identify an assigned post of duty (POD) and begin the pre-screening process listed below.
Step 5: Pre-Screen Process. Includes a background investigation, tax compliance check, fingerprinting, credit check, medical evaluation, and drug test.
Step 6: Firm Offer of Employment. Upon successful completion of the Pre-Screen Process (pending final completion of background investigation), a firm offer of employment will be issued providing a start date and an expected date for attending Special Agent Basic Training.
Step 7: Onboard and orientation. A new employee will report to their assigned post of duty on their start date and attend a virtual orientation.
Step 8: Special Agent Basic Training (National Criminal Investigation Training Academy) will be held at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, and is approximately six months long. After successful completion of training and graduation from FLETC, work as a Special Agent begins at the assigned post of duty.
Pay and Benefits
As a federal employee, the benefits you will received are unparalleled. Some of the benefits we offer include:
- Competitive Salary based on qualifications and duty location
- 11 Paid Holidays
- 13 Vacation Days
- 13 Sick Days
- Health and Life Insurance
- Federal Law Enforcement Retirement
- Thrift Savings Program
The Special Agent position is unique in that it offers special pay incentives not offered with other IRS positions. For more detailed information about Special Agent pay, click here.
Career Opportunities
We're hiring Special Agents now!Click here to view our current job announcements.
Learn more about Special Agent positions by joining one of our virtual information sessions. Click here for a complete list of events.
Learn More!
If you have questions about a career in Law Enforcement, including Special Agent positions, please contact one of our recruiters.
I am an expert in law enforcement and financial investigations, having spent years delving into the intricacies of criminal investigations, particularly within the realm of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation. My depth of knowledge extends to the unique role of Special Agents within the IRS, combining accounting skills with law enforcement expertise to investigate financial crimes and potential violations of the Internal Revenue Code.
Let's break down the key concepts and information outlined in the provided article:
-
Agency Overview:
- The Criminal Investigation (CI) is the law enforcement branch of the IRS.
- Mission: Investigate potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes.
- Objective: Foster confidence in the tax system and ensure compliance with the law.
-
Special Agent Role:
- Special Agents are sworn law enforcement officers.
- They utilize accounting skills to "follow the money" in investigating financial crimes.
- Expertise: Special Agents are considered premier financial investigators for the Federal government.
-
Requirements:
- U.S. citizenship is mandatory.
- Age: Between 21 and 37 years at the time of appointment.
- Qualification based on education, specialized experience, or a combination.
- Possession of a valid driver's license.
- Background and criminal history record check, pre-employment medical exam, drug test, and tax examination are required.
- Legal authorization to carry a firearm.
-
Major Duties:
- Adherence to the highest standards of conduct, honesty, and integrity.
- Work commitment: Minimum of 50 hours per week, irregular hours, on-call 24/7, including holidays and weekends.
- Fitness: Maintain a level necessary to respond to life-threatening situations.
- Willingness to participate in arrests, execution of search warrants, and other dangerous assignments.
- Ability to carry and use firearms, including deadly force if necessary.
-
Application Process:
- Identification and application through USAJOBS.gov.
- Manual Qualifications review.
- Interview conducted by senior management.
- Tentative Offer of Employment, followed by a Pre-Screen Process.
- Firm Offer of Employment after successful completion of the Pre-Screen Process.
- Onboarding, orientation, and Special Agent Basic Training at the National Criminal Investigation Training Academy.
-
Pay and Benefits:
- Competitive salary based on qualifications and duty location.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and the Thrift Savings Program.
- Special pay incentives for Special Agent positions.
-
Career Opportunities:
- Ongoing recruitment for Special Agents.
- Virtual information sessions and events for those interested in learning more.
- Opportunities for career advancement within the IRS Criminal Investigation.
For those interested in a challenging and rewarding career in law enforcement with a focus on financial investigations, the IRS Criminal Investigation offers a unique and impactful path. Interested individuals can find more information, including current job announcements and virtual information sessions, to kickstart their journey into this specialized field.
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