Tax Enforcement Investigator I

For questions regarding this position, please contact Lital Slobodsky at lslobodsky@rivco.org or 951-955-5005. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.

About the role

The Riverside County Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector is seeking a bilingual (Spanish) Tax Enforcement Investigator I to support the Tax Enforcement Unit in Riverside. The role involves collecting delinquent unsecured property taxes on assets such as business personal property, mobile homes, boats, aircraft, and possessory interests. Responsibilities include conducting fieldwork, contacting taxpayers by phone and in person, setting up payment arrangements, and enforcing collections through bank and property seizures when necessary.

This position requires strong investigative and research skills to locate taxpayers and their assets using public records, tax rolls, and bankruptcy files. The candidate will prepare reports for hearings or litigation and assist with various collection activities, including DMV holds, State Intercept programs, secured tax collection, and tax sale postings. Weekly travel throughout Riverside County (including up to Blythe) is required to visit taxpayers' properties in the field and request payment.

The most competitive candidates will have prior experience in tax collection or debt recovery, a strong understanding of tax codes and legal procedures, excellent investigative skills, and the ability to locate hard-to-find taxpayers and assets. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, report preparation for hearings or litigation, strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills are highly desired. Candidates must be comfortable with fieldwork and negotiating payment arrangements.

Incumbents are expected to promote to Tax Enforcement Investigator II after acquiring the necessary experience and demonstrating satisfactory job performance.

Meet the Team

The Riverside County Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector is a team of dedicated public service professionals managing the collection of property taxes and safeguarding public funds while ensuring a valuable taxpayer experience. Their mission is the sound investment of public funds, fair and efficient tax collection, and exceptional public service.

Responsibilities

• Utilize phone, electronic, and personal visits or fieldwork to locate and contact individuals and organizations to secure information and enforce compliance with tax laws, rules, or regulations.
• Analyze balance sheets and profit and loss statements; review recorded documents for encumbrances on real or personal property to determine equity for seizures or priority of liens; investigate possible tax evasions.
• Assist with the seizure and impound of personal property for tax delinquencies; represent the County at administrative hearings regarding seized property and arrange for the sale of seized items; investigate complaints.
• Verify tax liability and secure evidence for court prosecution when necessary.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with Federal, State, and local government agencies.
• Prepare reports and correspondence; review bankruptcy and State and Federal court files; testify in court when required.
• Consult in-house and external directories and personally contact management companies, owners, and lessees to locate delinquent taxpayers; collect routine delinquent unsecured tax bills of lower dollar amounts.
• Research returned tax bills and notices for new addresses; conduct research on mobile home tax accounts and coordinate efforts with the Assessor and State of California.
• Research Federal and State court files, particularly for bankruptcy accounts.
• Research County records at the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, Community Health, Superior Court, and Registrar of Voters' offices; respond to phone calls for Tax Enforcement Investigators as needed.

Requirements

Option I - Experience: Two years of experience in collections, investigative, or law enforcement fields, which must have included:

• Collection of pertinent financial information via face-to-face interviews and research.
• Applying skip-tracing techniques, determining and scheduling payments, or determining legal action to be taken on delinquent accounts.

Option II - Experience: Two years of experience in unsecured portions of the Revenue and Taxation Code, including:

• Tax bills, notices, payments, refunds, and liens.
• Federal Bankruptcy Act and Bulk Transfer Act, or mobile home property taxes and tax clearances.

Education Substitution: Education from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required experience on the basis of 16 semester or 24 quarter units in business administration or a related field for one year of experience.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of unsecured portions of the Revenue and Taxation Code, including tax bills, notices, payments, refunds, and liens; Federal Bankruptcy Act and Bulk Transfer Act; mobile home property taxes and tax clearances; basic mathematics, including interest computations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse individuals and groups within the County organizational structure and the community.
• Ability to resolve complaints and function effectively in complex, sensitive, and stressful situations.
• Ability to analyze data researched and proceed logically to the next step in securing necessary/additional information.
• Ability to efficiently read road maps; utilize a micro-tape recorder; follow oral and written instructions completely and accurately.

Other Requirements

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.
• This is a bilingual (Spanish) required recruitment. All qualified applicants will be required to take an un-proctored Spanish assessment exam.