Remote Payroll Tax Specialist

Overview

This role supports Payroll Tax Operations by resolving payroll tax issues accurately and on time across Notices, Corrections, Amendments, and Pay & File. The Senior Payroll Tax Processor is a core production contributor with strong technical competence and meaningful independence while working a high-volume case workload.

The position emphasizes detail-oriented, customer-focused payroll tax expertise, including hands-on resolution of tax notices, correction of payroll errors, and preparation of amended returns. The role also involves mentoring and acting as a role model for colleagues while continuing to build technical depth.

Responsibilities

• Execute full-cycle payroll tax case work for assigned accounts, including:
  • Process payroll runs accurately
  • Audit pre- and post-payroll output
  • Manage tax filings and payments
  • Maintain 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 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 resolution through to completion
• Manage a personal WIP queue with discipline by:
  • Prioritizing cases by SLA date
  • Flagging aging cases before SLA breach
  • Maintaining 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  • Flagging outdated content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, and:
  • Serve as a role model for TP1 staff
  • 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, and payroll error correction across multiple states (not general payroll administration only).
• Working knowledge of IRS and state agency notice types; ability to read a notice, identify the type, understand the agency’s claim, and 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 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, and reconciliation auditing; able to independently trace a tax discrepancy through a spreadsheet.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; 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

Compensation & Benefits

• 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
• 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.

Location

This is an hourly, non-exempt role.

Schedule expectations: minimum 20 hours per week with the option to flex up to 40 hours per week based on business need.

Overtime pay eligibility applies.

Pay ranges vary by location as listed in the Compensation & Benefits section.