A county tax collector is an important member of the government because he or she helps ensure that taxes are properly being paid so the local government will be funded. If you want to become a county tax collector, you need to work hard in school, learning about accounting and law. In addition, you must prepare for travel and be familiar with your county. In some counties, the tax collector must be elected.
In order to become a county tax collector, you must at least acquire a bachelor's degree. Collectors frequently have degrees in business, accounting or economics in order to prepare for the depth of financial data that must be studied in this line of work. In order to work in many management positions within the county tax collection department, you might also need a master's degree.
Rarely can you become a county tax collector right after completing your college coursework, often because you must be elected. You can get exposure to taxes, finance and tax laws by first working as an accountant. The skills necessary to be successful in this job, such as attention to detail, strong research skills and communication skills for breaking down complicated financial data into layman's terms, are all transferable to the county tax collector's field.
You must also know how to navigate your local area if you want to become a county tax collector. This job demands many hours reviewing local laws and taxpayer information, but also a great deal of travel. You frequently will be in your car, visiting a business or a taxpayer, discussing taxes and problems with returns. Having a familiarity with the county can be a major help so that time is not wasted by getting lost.
You also must have a familiarity with the local election laws for this job. In many counties, you must be elected in a general election to become a county tax collector. Many times, this is just for the top position and all of the collectors below this individual are appointed, but it is important to know the local rules in order to be prepared. If you do plan on running for election, you must collect donations in order to advertise in print, with signs and through media outlets such as radio and television. Rarely do tax collectors have a debate like mayors or presidents do, but you might have to answer questions for reporters in order to tell voters why all of your previous educational and work experience makes you the best choice.
