Federal Position Descriptions
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Commissioner

Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury
Responsibility
Management Scope

The IRS is the largest Treasury bureau, with more than 100,000 employees throughout the U.S., and a budget of more than $10 billion. Primary operating divisions and enforcement functions report through a deputy commissioner for services and enforcement, and support functions report through a deputy commissioner for operations support.4

Primary Responsibilities

• Administers, manages, conducts, directs and supervises the execution and application of the internal revenue laws, or related statutes and tax conventions to which the U.S. is a party
• Recommends to the president a candidate for appointment as chief counsel for the Internal Revenue Service when a vacancy occurs, and recommends to the president the removal of such chief counsel
• Ensures that IRS employees are familiar with and act in accord with taxpayer rights, including the right to be informed; the right to quality service; the right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax; the right to challenge the position of the IRS and be heard; the right to appeal an IRS decision in an independent forum; the right to finality; the right to privacy and confidentiality; the right to retain representation; and the right to a fair and just tax system (26 U.S.C. § 7803)
• Oversees tax collection and compliance activities organized according to wage and investment; large business and international; small business, self-employed, tax exempt and government entities; criminal investigation functions; information technology; and an appeals function
• Oversees general management and support functions5

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Management experience with large public agencies, including federal agencies
• Experience in crisis management
• Extensive experience communicating with the public: meeting with clients, testifying on Capitol Hill, managing customer networks and working with the press
• Experience managing federal oversight, inspectors general and congressional committees
• Understanding of large IT systems and the roles they can play in operations, including call centers

Competencies

• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to withstand criticism
• Ability to work with and lead federal career staff, since there are only two IRS political appointees
• Ability to continually engage in modernization efforts

Past Appointments
  • John Koskinen (2013 to present) – Non-Executive Chairman, Freddie Mac; President, U.S. Soccer Foundation; Deputy Mayor and City Administrator of Washington, D.C.
  • Douglas Shulman (2008 to 2012) – Vice Chairman, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; Board Director, Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation; Board Director, World Federation of Exchanges
  • Mark Everson (2003 to 2007) – Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget; Controller, Office of Federal Finance Management; Vice President of Finance, SC International Services Inc.
AGENCY

Department of the Treasury

Mission: The Treasury Department is the executive agency responsible for promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the financial security of the United States.1

COMPENSATION

Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)3

REPORTS TO

Secretary of the Treasury

SENATE COMMITTEE

Finance

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Footnote
  1. Partnership for Public Service agency profile
  2. https://www.irs.gov/uac/commissioner-john-koskinen
  3. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  4. OPM
  5. OPM
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