Payroll Tax Specialist (Hybrid)

Your Impact Starts Here

We're building something new at Homebase: a dedicated Payroll Tax function that sits inside the Payroll Care Team and owns the most technically complex, trust-critical layer of our payroll product.

Right now, when a customer receives a tax notice, there's no in-house expert to triage it, investigate the root cause, or coordinate a resolution with our embedded payroll partners. That gap costs us customers — and it costs small business owners peace of mind they can't afford to lose.

• Own Tax Notice Resolution — Primary Focus
• Serve as the first line of defense on all incoming payroll tax notices: triage, investigate, and deliver clear initial responses to customers that build trust fast.
• Co-reference each notice against the customer's tax profile, payroll history, and filing records to identify root cause before escalating anything.
• Coordinate with internal payroll operations partners to drive resolution — and follow through until issues are closed.
• Track open notices in the ticketing system, maintain resolution timelines, and identify patterns that point to systemic issues worth escalating to Product.
• Request penalty abatements, draft agency correspondence, and manage the documentation trail for each case.
• Build scalable documentation, playbooks, and operational standards for Homebase's Payroll Tax function as it grows.

Quarterly and Year-End Proactive Support

• Prepare customers for their first filing quarter — walk them through the filing lifecycle, explain draft filings, and resolve blockers (missing IDs, TPA/POA gaps, agency mismatches) before the deadline hits.
• Conduct quarterly account hygiene reviews: verify TPA/POA is in place for all active filing states, confirm agency IDs and rates are current, and surface any at-risk accounts before they generate notices.
• Monitor for year-end risk factors — owner/shareholder changes, 2% shareholder benefits, compensation adjustments — and surface them proactively.
• Support customers through quarter-end variance questions and help reconcile payroll updates with tax filings.

Registration and Compliance Guidance

• Serve as an internal SME for customers expanding into new jurisdictions — providing agency-sourced guidance on registration requirements, deadlines, and filing frequencies.
• Maintain a running tracker of agency-specific requirements: filing rates, TPA/POA requirements, "Applied For" ID timelines, and agency quirks. Keep it current.
• Support compliance calendar maintenance and ensure customers have what they need to meet their obligations — without crossing into advice or completing registrations on their behalf.

Role 🚀

• The Foundation for Success - These are the experiences and strengths that will set you up for success in this role:
• 3–5 years of payroll tax experience in a multi-state environment — ideally at a payroll provider or payroll SaaS company
• Deep working knowledge of federal, state, and local payroll taxes: withholding, FUTA/SUI, quarterly and annual filings, W-2/W-2C corrections, and tax registrations
• Hands-on experience managing and resolving tax notices from state and federal agencies — this is the core of the role
• Familiarity with TPA/POA processes and agency-specific filing requirements across multiple jurisdictions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — you can translate complex compliance situations into clear, confident updates for small business owners who aren't tax experts
• Comfortable working directly with customers in both high-stakes and routine interactions
• Organized and methodical — you can carry a queue of open issues across multiple accounts and agencies without things slipping
• Demonstrated ability to identify systemic issues and recommend scalable process improvements
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with payroll systems and reporting tools
• CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) or FPC designation preferred, or meaningful progress toward certification
• SQL or scripting experience a plus for report automation
• Leverage AI to accelerate investigations, improve documentation quality, draft customer communications, and continuously improve operational workflows.
• Identify and build repeatable, AI-enabled workflows and templates that reduce resolution time and scale this function over time.
• Measure and share AI-enabled workflow improvements that reduce resolution time or improve customer outcomes.
• Approach AI as a force multiplier — not a replacement for deep tax judgment.

The Homie Way

• Be Customer Obsessed – Solve problems with empathy and creativity.
• Move Fast, Learn Fast – Experiment, take action, and grow every day.
• Own Your Impact – Think big, focus on what matters, and make decisions you stand behind.
• Master Your Craft – Excellence fuels impact—show up, step up, and make your mark.
• Win Together – Put goals over roles, lead with trust, and connect to our mission and each other.

What We Offer

• Ownership & Financial Security: Stock options + 401(k) with 4% match
• Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage + FSA options
• Flexible PTO + company holidays + designated focus periods
• AI access, for real: We invest in builders and believe that curiosity shouldn't have a paywall. That means you'll have access to paid AI tools with minimal restrictions, so you can build, experiment, and level up your craft.
• Family Support: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave (after 6 months of service)
• Protection Plans: Life insurance + short/long-term disability coverage
• Tips: Work From Anywhere Month + meeting-free weeks yearly
• Workspace Perks: Meals provided, commuter benefits, team offsites, and Customer Days
• Our Hybrid Rhythm: We believe collaboration drives impact. That’s why Monday-Thursday are our required in-office days—a time to move faster as a team, build deeper connections, make better decisions, and build together.

What To Expect During The Interview Process

• Meet the Talent Acquisition team, Kaitlyn S.
• Meet the Hiring Manager, Jess B.
• Participate in a Talent Showcase
• Meet Cross-functional Partners
• Background Check + Offer Stage
• Welcome to the team, Homie 🎉

Belonging at Homebase

• We're committed to fostering a welcoming space where every Homie can be their full self.
• Experience comes in many forms—so if you're excited about this role, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply!
• Homebase will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.