ASSISTANT CHIEF, TAX SERVICES
Assistant Chief, Tax Services is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
Candidates need a doctoral degree and 6 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $116,962 to $172,991, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Treasury.
How to apply
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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.
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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.
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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 $161,785. 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 the Chief, Tax Services or other executive official in the Division of Taxation, Department of the Treasury, serves as the primary assistant; manages and makes administrative decisions of significant difficulty, and reviews and analyzes highly complex regulatory matters; advises on tax matters in compliance with the law; manages Tax Services Specialists 1, 2, and 3 engaged in research on and summaries and reports of taxes and administrative affairs with respect to Division policies and procedures on the administration of any State tax; 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. Assumes the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the Chief, Tax Services in their absence. Drafts, coordinates, and manages adoptions, re-adoptions, amendments, and revision of rules and regulations that may be required to implement statutory authority, powers, and duties imposed for the purpose of effective regulation of all activities over which the Division has jurisdiction. Sets standards for conducting research into legislation and regulations pertaining to Division programs, functions, and procedures. Guides staff on drafting legislation for tax affairs affecting the operation of the Division. Oversees analysis and evaluation of legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation. Oversees distribution of the Division's rules and their official publication in the New Jersey Register handled by the Administrative Practice Officer of the Office of Administrative Law. Collaborates with the Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director of Counseling Services to establish administrative policies of a technical, legislative, or administrative aspect in highly technical areas. Guides Tax Services Specialists in responding to technical inquiries from the public concerning tax-related matters of a highly complex nature. Oversees and reviews technical and legal advice provided by Tax Services Specialists 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. Oversees Tax Services Specialists' review of enacted legislation and pending legislative bills. Supervises all Tax Services research on administrative problems of Assembly or Senate Bills before and after they become law. Evaluates and provides feedback to staff on research of court decisions, court cases, and such opinions that affect the work of the division. Manages preparation of the Division's Annual Report for transmittal to the Governor and the Legislature. Manages review of technical correspondence, including agreements with other State and federal agencies, Memoranda of Understanding, Notices, web notices, formal correspondence, Closing Agreements, etc. Responds or prepares responses to advanced legal issue correspondence for Chief, Tax Services approval. Assists the Chief, Tax Services with preparation of draft referral letters for Director, Treasurer, or Governor signature. Keeps current on pending legislation affecting State tax laws. Oversees all drafting of technical publications and web guidance. 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 legal memoranda, briefs, and arguments. Manages requests for Attorney General opinions. Ensures Division staff members perform their duties in accordance with the regulatory and legal responsibilities of the agency. Oversees process of making determinations of 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, CPAs, fiduciaries, accountants, and others representing taxpayers involved in 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 and assists the Deputy Attorneys General with stipulations, transcripts, pleadings, interrogatories, briefs, decrees, judgments, and orders including settlement orders in litigated matters. Supervises and assists the Chief, Tax Services in liaison work with the Legislature, 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 on related tax matters affecting the division that may or may not include statutory and case law. Plans, develops, and manages 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. 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. Attends conferences of the Multistate Tax Commission and the New Jersey Bar Association on New Jersey tax- related matters. Manages, analyzes, advises and interprets prior statutes and 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
Six (6) years of experience in tax law study and research in a regulatory or business setting, or six (6) years of experience in the interpretation and application of Federal or State income tax rules, laws, and regulations, which may include income tax preparation, two (2) years of which shall have been in a supervisory 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 statistical methods and procedures. 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 and law references from other jurisdictions and in preparing outlines 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. Ability to supervise 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, 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 draft statutes and rules, memoranda, internal and public guidance, and reports. Ability to interpret and apply New Jersey Tax Laws, rules, regulations, policies, and operation procedures of the Division. Ability to manage professional and clerical personnel, organize and distribute work, and review work output. Ability to organize and carry through research studies and projects on legislative developments and report accordingly. Ability to interpret and apply basic laws, regulations, and procedures. Ability to draft proposed legislation, rules, and regulations. Ability to prepare material for hearings, reviews, and executive determinations. Ability to establish and maintain liaison with Division officers, employees, and representatives of State and local government units. Ability to collect, tabulate, arrange, and interpret data. Ability to present data in a logical and coherent manner. Ability to reference original source material for management of disputes. Ability to draft highly technical and other correspondence in the course of official duties. Ability to confer with attorneys, fiduciaries, CPAs, 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 write reports of a professional order containing findings and conclusions. Ability to maintain essential records and files. Ability to represent the Division in addressing taxpayers and others in disseminating 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 the State. 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.