CHIEF, TAX SERVICES
Career Family: CHIEF
Chief, Tax Services sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
The requirements come down to a doctoral degree and 7 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $128,443 to $190,161, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Treasury.
How to apply
-
Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
-
Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
-
Agency posting
Department of the Treasury's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $167,851. The agencies employing the most are:
- Treasury (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the direction of an Assistant Director or other executive official in the Division of Taxation Department of the Treasury, advises and makes administrative decisions on highly complex tax matters involving compliance with the law; directs the Assistant Chief, Tax Services, Tax Services Specialists 1, 2, and 3, and other employees engaged in advanced legal research; advises on complex regulatory, legislative, and judicial matters including administrative procedural and policy matters considered by the Division; manages staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required. NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Examples of work
Manages the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Reviews and analyzes regulatory matters of a highly complex nature. Drafts, coordinates, and manages complex adoptions, re-adoptions, amendments, and revision of rules and regulations that may be required to implement the statutory authority, powers, and duties imposed for the purpose of effective regulation of all activities over which the Division has jurisdiction. Provides direction to Tax Service Specialist staff on coordination and executing legal research into legislation and regulations pertaining to Division programs, functions, and procedures. Oversees drafting legislation of tax affairs affecting the operation of the Division. Manages the analysis and evaluation of legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation. Directs the Administrative Practice Officer who works with the Office of Administrative Law to distribute the Division's rules and their official publication in the New Jersey Register. Assists the Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director regarding establishing administrative policies that have a technical, legislative, or administrative aspect in highly technical areas. Manages Tax Services staff in responding to technical inquiries from the public and from Division staff concerning tax related matters of a highly complex nature. Oversees Tax Services staff in providing technical and legal advice to the Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Chiefs, and Supervisors of Audit, Collection and Enforcement, and Taxpayer Services of the Division in technical matters related to the administration of any State tax law. Manages the review of enacted legislation and pending legislative bills. Oversees research on administrative problems of Assembly or Senate Bills before and after they become law. Manages research on highly complex court decisions, court cases, and such opinions that affect work of the Division. Oversees preparation of the Division's Annual Report for transmittal to the Governor and the Legislature. Reviews and approves technical correspondence, agreements with other State and federal agencies, Memoranda of Understanding, Notices, web notices, formal correspondence, Closing Agreements, etc. Answers directly or prepares drafts on advanced legal issue correspondence. Guides legal staff on preparation of drafts of letters for Director, Treasurer, or Governor signature.0 Advises auditors and investigators on technical, tax, and other problems of a highly complex nature including tax lien status, administrative remedies, screening of returns, bankruptcy and other insolvency proceedings, dissolutions, mergers, withdrawals, consolidations, etc. Assists Deputy Attorneys General in the preparation of their legal memoranda, briefs, or arguments. Oversees preparation of requests for Attorney General opinions. Advises Division staff in the performance of their duties that are affected by the regulatory and legal responsibilities of the agency. Oversees the determinations as to whether a person's or other entity's activity or presence in the State of New Jersey subjects it to one of the 40+ taxes and fees administered by the division. Confers with attorneys, CPA's, fiduciaries, accountants, and others representing taxpayers involved in more complex legal disputes or appeals of tax assessments that include discussions and meetings with taxpayers or others concerned with the work of the Division of Taxation. Confers with Deputy Attorneys General on and assists with stipulations, transcripts, pleadings, interrogatories, briefs, decrees, judgements, and orders including settlement orders, in litigated matters. Direct legal staff's work with the Legislature, the Office of the Governor, Office of the Treasurer, Office of the Attorney General, Office of Administrative Law, Economic Development Authority, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Legislative Services, and other State and local offices in related tax matters affecting the Division that may or may not include statutory and case law. Plans, develops and directs the execution of various programs to accomplish the State's and the Division's immediate and long-term goals, and to satisfy requirements imposed by applicable law. Assigns work and instructions to lower-level Tax Services staff and administrative assistants and directs the performance of their work. Attends conferences of the Multistate Tax Commission and the New Jersey Bar Association on New Jersey tax matters. Confers with division personnel, particularly of the Audit and Collection and Enforcement Activities, regarding the Division's policies on the assessment, collection, and enforcement of tax laws and other regulatory laws administered by the Division of Taxation. Confers with the Attorney General's Office and counsel representing taxpayers involved in appeals. Analyzes, interprets, and advises on new tax and related laws, administered by the Division of Taxation including Corporation Income Tax, Gross Income Tax, Sales and Use Tax, Property Tax Relief Programs, and Spill and Litter Tax, etc. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Juris Doctorate degree in Law.
Experience
Seven (7) years of experience in tax law research in a regulatory or business setting, or seven (7) years of experience in the interpretation and application of Federal or State income tax rules, laws, and regulations, which may include income tax preparation, three (3) years of which shall have been in a second-line supervisor or management capacity.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of modern legal research sources, techniques, and methods. Knowledge of management techniques. Knowledge of New Jersey tax laws and regulations, administrative law procedures, and real property. Knowledge of problems encountered in planning and carrying out research in litigated cases and tax problems. Knowledge of key multistate tax concepts and principles. Knowledge of procedures used in locating, reviewing and abstracting case in reference to other jurisdictions, and in preparing outliners of cases to be presented in court. Knowledge of accounting principles and the interpretation and review of balance sheets and profit and loss statements. Knowledge of project management concepts and principles. Knowledge of statistical methods and procedures. Ability to manage assigned staff and plan, organize, and implement projects within the unit. Ability to understand, interpret and apply the New Jersey Tax laws, U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions, Federal Tax laws, U.S. tax treaties, and particularly the Federal Internal Revenue Code and related Federal regulations. Ability to understand accounting principles and rules, and the interrelation to federal and New Jersey tax reporting rules and principles. Ability to understand financial and proxy statements and interpret the impact for State tax purposes. Ability to understand basic tenets of decision-making in regulatory and other governmental processes. Ability to research, understand, and analyze trends in commerce, taxpayer behavior, emerging technologies, and business models. Ability to guide professional staff in providing competent advice to the Division and its technical staff, as well as informative replies to members of the public. Ability to interpret the rules, policies, and operating procedures of the Division and apply them to specific situations. Ability to manage professional and administrative personnel, organize and distribute work, and review work output. Ability to manage professional staff in the performance of their duties involving complex issues related to legislation and regulation. Ability to comprehend and interpret laws, regulations, and procedures. Ability to draft statutes, rules, regulations, memoranda, internal and public guidance, and reports. Ability to draft proposed legislation, rules, and regulations. Ability to interpret and apply New Jersey Tax Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and operation procedures of the Division. Ability to establish and maintain liaison with Division officers, employees, and other representatives of State and local government. Ability to draft highly technical and other legal correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to present data in a logical and coherent manner. Ability to confer with attorneys, fiduciaries, CPA's, other accountants, corporation representatives, and others interested in or concerned with the work of the Division. Ability to identify, examine, and resolve legal issues. Ability to maintain essential records and files. Ability to disseminate information relating to existing and new tax legislation. Ability to comment on pending tax legislation before the taxation committee of the Senate and Assembly of New Jersey. Ability to advise the Division of the regulatory consequences involved in the formulation of its policies and standards pertaining to the various phases of its regulatory functions. Ability to write reports of a professional order containing findings and conclusions. Ability to prepare official correspondence. Ability to locate court decisions, precedents, opinions, legal citations, and other legal material. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.