Payroll Tax Specialist (Remote)

Overview

This role is part of Payroll Tax Operations (PTO) and involves resolving payroll tax issues across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File. The Senior Payroll Tax Processor is a core production contributor for a high-volume case workload, delivering accurate work with meaningful independence and strong technical competence.

The position requires a detail-oriented, customer-focused payroll tax professional with hands-on experience resolving tax notices, correcting payroll errors, and preparing amended returns. The role also includes mentoring and serving as a role model for colleagues while continuing to deepen 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 (e.g., balance-due notices, deposit discrepancies, SUI rate change notices, and account mismatch notices), owning 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 on complex amendments while retaining ownership
• 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 personal WIP queue with discipline:
  • Prioritize cases by SLA date
  • Flag aging cases before they breach SLA
  • 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  • Flagging outdated content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 and actively seek coaching and development from Staff Payroll Tax Processor and managers

Qualifications

• 2–3+ years of hands-on payroll tax experience, with a strong focus on:
  • Notice resolution
  • Amended return preparation
  • Payroll error correction
  • Experience 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 type
  • Understand the agency’s claim
  • Determine the appropriate resolution path
• Demonstrated experience independently resolving State and Federal payroll tax notices, including:
  • Balance-due notices
  • Penalty assessments
  • SUI rate change notices
  • Deposit mismatch notices
• Comprehensive knowledge of tax payment and filing regulations, including understanding of 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
  • 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 the ability to professionally interact 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)
• Experience in a payroll service bureau, PEO, or multi-client payroll tax environment

Compensation & Benefits

This position provides a competitive compensation package with pay for performance rewards.

• Expected base pay range by location:
  • 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

This position will be eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards, and benefits, in accordance with applicable plans and programs. Pay offered is based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location.

Location

This is an hourly, non-exempt position with flexible scheduling. Minimum of 20 hours per week, with the option to flex up to 40 hours per week based on business need. Eligible for overtime pay.

Locations referenced for compensation include the following:

• California (Bay Area) and Southern California
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington