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Tax Graduate Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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Tax Graduate information

See Virginia salary details

$54.5K

$128.3K

$174.5K

How much do tax graduate jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for tax graduate in Virginia is $128,257.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,000.00 and $144,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a tax graduate?

Tax graduates are entry-level professionals who have recently completed a degree, often in accounting, finance, or a related field, and are starting their careers in tax within organizations or accounting firms. They typically join structured graduate programs where they receive on-the-job training, support in gaining professional qualifications (such as ACA, ACCA, or CTA), and exposure to various aspects of tax compliance and advisory work. Tax graduates assist with preparing tax returns, researching tax laws, and advising clients or their employer on tax matters under the supervision of senior staff.

What are the typical responsibilities of a tax graduate during their first year in a professional firm?

As a Tax Graduate in your first year, you'll primarily support senior tax professionals by preparing tax returns, researching tax laws, and assisting with client documentation. You'll often work as part of a team, collaborating with auditors and consultants, and may be given the opportunity to meet with clients under supervision. This role is designed to give you a broad exposure to different tax areas, such as corporate, personal, and indirect taxes, while building your technical and client management skills. Expect a steep but rewarding learning curve, with regular feedback from mentors to support your career growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tax graduate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tax Graduate, you need a solid understanding of accounting principles, tax regulations, and a relevant degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Familiarity with tax preparation software (such as Thomson Reuters or CCH), Microsoft Excel, and possibly working toward a professional qualification like ACA or ATT is typical. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for interpreting complex data and collaborating with clients and colleagues. These competencies ensure accuracy, compliance, and the ability to provide valuable tax advice in a dynamic professional environment.

What is the difference between Tax Graduate vs Tax Associate?

AspectTax GraduateTax Associate
Required CredentialsTypically a recent graduate or final-year student in accounting, finance, or related fieldsLikely to have some experience or entry-level certification, possibly pursuing CPA or equivalent
Work EnvironmentTraining-focused, supervised, often in large accounting firms or corporate tax departmentsMore independent work, handling client files, preparing tax returns, and compliance tasks
Employer & Industry UsageUsed during entry-level recruitment, internships, and graduate programsUsed for early career roles, often after completing initial training or internship

The main difference between a Tax Graduate and a Tax Associate lies in experience and responsibilities. A Tax Graduate is typically a recent graduate in the early stages of their career, focusing on training and learning. In contrast, a Tax Associate has usually gained some practical experience and handles more independent tasks related to tax preparation and compliance.

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Tax Graduate jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Tax Graduate job openings:

Infographic showing various Tax Graduate job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,257 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Tax Specialist (Tax Compliance Officer)

Norfolk, VA • On-site

Criminal Investigation & Law Enforcement | IRS Careers
Public Administration • 10K+ employees

$74K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Key responsibilities

  • Review and analyze tax records to determine tax liability for individuals, businesses, or corporations.

  • Audit various types of tax returns, including Form 1040-NR, Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative cases, treaty cases, and embassy cases.

  • Investigate potential violations of Federal tax laws and recommend appropriate corrective actions.


Internal Revenue Service rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 131 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

177th of 300 rated public sector bodies


Job description


WHAT IS THE LARGE BUSINESS & INTERNATIONAL DIVISION?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions
  • Position(s) are to be filled in following area(s):
    • LBI - Director Withholding Exchange/International Individual Compliance -Withholding Exchange and International Individual Compliance (WEIIC), International Individual Compliance, Territory 5
REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILSQualifications:Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
QUALIFICATION REQUIRMENTS: To qualify for this position, you must meet the qualification requirements outlined below:
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SPF):
ACCOUNTING KNOWLEDGE:
Applicants must demonstrate their knowledge of Principles of Accounting and Intermediate Accounting. Candidates can demonstrate this knowledge either through successful completion of 12 semester hours / 18 quarter hours of college level accounting (with at least 6 semester / 9 quarter hours at the intermediate level) and/or experience. Applicants qualifying based on education must submit transcripts with their application.
AND
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION GS-11: In addition to the basic requirements, to be eligible for this position, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position includes:
Experience that demonstrated a substantive knowledge of business practices, basic accounting principles, and Federal tax laws and regulations; and that required the ability to audit tax records, analyze systems and bookkeeping, use fact-finding techniques, and develop interpersonal skills.
Examples of qualifying experience may include: (This list is not all inclusive)
  • Experience working in a business environment where primary responsibilities included applying accounting principles, auditing tax records, and interpreting and applying Federal tax laws and regulations.
  • Experience auditing various types of tax returns, determining tax liability of individual taxpayers, businesses, or corporations; Interpreting and applying Federal tax laws and regulations; and making determinations on Federal tax liability.
  • Experience investigating alleged criminal violations of Federal tax statutes and making recommendations for criminal prosecution and assertion of civil penalties; or collecting delinquent Federal taxes, including canvassing for unreported taxes due, and securing delinquent returns.
  • Experience applying business practices, accounting principles, and Federal tax laws and regulations to audit tax returns, identify discrepancies, analyze accounting systems and bookkeeping records, recommend corrective actions, and prepare compliance documentation.
  • Experience auditing various types of tax returns to determine the correct tax liability for individual taxpayers, businesses, or corporations by applying the Internal Revenue Code, Federal tax regulations, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) policies and procedures. Experience conducting analytical examinations, applying fact-finding techniques, making tax liability determinations and redeterminations, and auditing Form 1040-NR, Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI) cases, treaty cases, and embassy cases.
  • Experience conducting program evaluations, internal audits, or administrative activities involving the assessment and collection of Federal taxes, investigating potential violations of Federal tax laws, recommending appropriate corrective actions, and collecting delinquent Federal taxes, including securing delinquent tax returns.
OR
EDUCATION: You may substitute education with specialized experience as follows:
A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major study in accounting, auditing, taxation, business administration, law, or other related fields.
OR
Three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree with a major study in accounting, auditing, taxation, business administration, law, or other related fields.
OR
An LL.M., if related.
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of qualifying graduate education and experience equivalent to the amount required.
AND
You must also meet the following requirements:
  • TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT (TACA): Current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment. For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens".
  • TIME IN GRADE (TIG): For positions above the GS-05,applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the grade you are applying for. For positions at the GS-05, you cannot advance to the GS-05 if you have held a GS-02 in the past 52 weeks. There is no TIG restriction for GS-02, 03, or 04 positions.
For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.
Education:A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).Employment Type: OTHER

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