Customer Service Specialist Trainee (REVENUE TAX SPECIALIST TRAINEE) UMP

Position Overview

Would you like to work for a professional organization which provides steady hours and an exceptional benefits package?  How about a workplace with career and personal growth opportunities?  Then consider the Illinois Department of Revenue.  We are hiring a Customer Service Specialist Trainee (Revenue Tax Specialist Trainee) in the Taxpayer Assistance Division for our Chicago office.  The desired candidate will be a highly motivated individual to be trained to respond to Illinois individual and business taxpayers’ inquiries in person.  Join our team to be trained on a variety of Illinois taxes and tax laws that affect Individual Income Tax, Withholding Income Tax, Business Income Tax, Sales Tax and/or Business Registration and corresponding tax operating software. While working with the department staff, taxpayers, businesses and local governments in person, through email, and telephone, you will also learn interpersonal skills and acquire excellent customer service skills. The training period will be 12 months which can culminate into a promotion to the professional title of Revenue Tax Specialist I.  A semi-automatic promotion beyond this title is also on the horizon!  Come join our team and reap the rewards of receiving the best tax training and the gratitude of the taxpayers you serve.

The benefits of working at Department of Revenue include a 37 ½ hour work week, a generous salary and benefits package (paid time off for vacation, sick, or personal leave, thirteen holidays) pension and other retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement, and insurance eligibility on day one (medical, dental, vision, and life).

Essential Functions

• Under immediate supervision, for a period of six (6) to twelve (12) months, receives structured classroom and on-the-job training involving various facets of the Customer Services Bureau’s programs and operations relative to the processing of all types of taxes.
• Receives and completes assignments of a routine and progressively more involved nature in specific phases of the tax examining process in accordance with established rules, policies, and procedures, including but not limited to the review and examination of all types of taxes to verify that all necessary data has been entered on returns and the validity of deductions taken.
• Confers with taxpayers through written and verbal communications.
• Receives a combination of classroom and on-the-job training relative to tax laws administered by IDOR, rules and regulations, tax forms, research methods and procedures, communication skills, system applications and computer usage/concepts.
• Receives basic technical training in specialized operations to enable the trainee to assist in priority situations.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years of college; OR four years of work experience providing tax related support functions within a program area at the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Qualifying state employees in the employee Upward Mobility Program, may complete combinations of specific proficiency tests and training programs leading to a certificate of proficiency in lieu of the stated requirements for this class.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to successfully complete a tax compliance and fingerprint-based background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• This position is considered medium work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(c)). Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Requires the ability to use and secure a state issued mobile device, e.g., cellular phone, laptop computer, table, etc.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

Agency Statement

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is responsible for administering the state's tax laws and collecting taxes in a fair, consistent, and efficient manner. Their goal is to provide accurate, timely, and reliable funding and information to both state and local communities. By implementing best practices, IDOR works to continuously improve and enhance accuracy, efficiency, and productivity across all areas of operations and tax administration. In doing so, they aim to earn respect, deliver value, and serve as a trusted source of information for the public.

IDOR is a professional governmental entity that prioritizes its employees and actively invests in their success through comprehensive training and engagement. As the proud recipient of the 2025 Bell Seal for workplace mental health, IDOR cultivates an environment that encourages open dialogue and collaboration on mental health issues. With a strong commitment to diversity—both culturally and professionally—IDOR believes that this inclusive approach leads to a more productive workplace, ultimately benefiting the citizens and taxpayers of Illinois.