Payroll Tax Specialist (Remote)

Overview

This role is part of the Payroll Tax Operations (PTO) team and focuses on accurate, timely resolution of payroll tax issues across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File.

As a Senior Payroll Tax Processor, you will be a core production contributor handling a high-volume workload with strong technical competence and meaningful independence. The position emphasizes detail orientation and customer-focused expertise in resolving tax notices, correcting payroll errors, and preparing amended returns. You will also be expected to mentor and serve as a role model while continuing to deepen your technical knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Execute full-cycle payroll tax case work for assigned accounts, including:
  • Processing payroll runs accurately
  • Auditing pre- and post-payroll output
  • Managing tax filings and payments
  • Maintaining compliance across all active jurisdictions
• Independently research and resolve complex State and Federal payroll tax notices, including:
  • Balance-due notices
  • Deposit discrepancies
  • SUI rate change notices
  • Account mismatch notices
  • Own each case from intake through confirmed closure
• Prepare written agency responses with complete supporting documentation; submit within agency-required deadlines and confirm receipt.
• Prepare amended payroll tax returns (Form 941-X and state equivalents) independently for complex amendments.
• Support payroll correction workflows by:
  • Identifying the source of a payroll error
  • Quantifying tax impact across affected quarters
  • Documenting the correction audit trail
  • Seeing the resolution through to completion
• Manage a personal WIP queue with discipline:
  • Prioritize cases by SLA date
  • Flag aging cases before SLA breach
  • Maintain thorough case documentation from first touch to closure
• Perform high-level trend analysis of customer data, system data, and agency correspondence to identify process or system deficiencies.
• Contribute to SOP and KB updates by:
  • Flagging outdated content
  • Suggesting revisions
  • Documenting solutions to previously unresolved issues
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Corrections, Amendments, Pay & File, and Tax Notice teams.
  • Serve as a role model for TP1 staff
  • Seek coaching and development from Staff Payroll Tax Processor and managers

Qualifications

• 2–3+ years of hands-on payroll tax experience with strong focus on notice resolution, amended return preparation, and payroll error correction across multiple states (not just general payroll administration)
• Working knowledge of IRS and state agency notice types, including ability to:
  • Read a notice
  • Identify the notice type
  • Understand the agency’s claim
  • Determine the appropriate resolution path
• Demonstrated experience resolving State and Federal payroll tax notices independently, including:
  • Balance-due notices
  • Penalty assessments
  • SUI rate change notices
  • Deposit mismatch notices
• Comprehensive knowledge of tax payment and filing regulations, including understanding the distinction between employee and employer tax responsibilities across federal and state jurisdictions
• Hands-on experience preparing and approving amended Federal (Form 941-X, W-2c) and State payroll tax returns across all states, including jurisdictions with complex local requirements such as PA, OH, and more
• Deep knowledge of federal payroll tax law including FICA, FUTA, FITW, employment tax deposit schedules, and associated penalty and interest structures
• Multi-state payroll tax expertise including:
  • Reciprocal agreements
  • Resident and nonresident taxation
  • SUI account management
  • Local tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Proficiency with at least one payroll platform and comfort navigating case management systems such as Salesforce
• Excel/Google Sheets skills required, including:
  • VLOOKUP
  • Pivot tables
  • Reconciliation auditing
  • Ability to trace a tax discrepancy through a spreadsheet independently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to interact professionally with state and federal tax agencies and document case activity clearly and completely
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or Finance preferred; equivalent experience accepted
• Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) required
  • CPP preferred for candidates with 4+ years of experience
  • Active pursuit of CPP is viewed favorably
  • CPP holders will be evaluated for accelerated development
• Experience at a payroll service bureau, PEO, or multi-client payroll tax environment is a significant advantage

Preferred Qualifications

• CPP certification (preferred for candidates with 4+ years of experience)

Compensation & Benefits

• This position is eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards, and benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs.
• Pay is based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.
• Expected base pay range (hourly):
  • California (Bay Area): $36.00 - $49.00
  • Southern California: $36.00 - $49.00
  • Colorado: $27.00 - $36.50
  • District of Columbia: $27.00 - $36.50
  • Hawaii: $28.50 - $38.50
  • Illinois: $27.00 - $36.50
  • Maine: $25.00 - $33.50
  • Maryland: $27.00 - $36.50
  • Massachusetts: $28.50 - $38.50
  • Minnesota: $25.00 - $33.50
  • New Jersey: $28.50 - $38.50
  • New York: $29.50 - $34.47
  • Ohio: $25.00 - $33.50
  • Vermont: $27.00 - $36.50
  • Virginia: $27.00 - $36.50
  • Washington: $28.50 - $38.50

Location

This is an hourly, non-exempt role eligible for overtime pay, supporting virtual services and operating within the listed U.S. locations/regions.