This is the journey level of the series. Under general supervision, researches, develops, analyzes, implements, or interprets tax policy.

Positions at this level independently perform professional level work in a variety of tax policy disciplines.

Incumbents perform at least one of the following kinds of work:

• Positions are responsible for the implementation and integration of new tax programs or changes to existing programs. They analyze proposed tax legislation, and formulate and present policy options to executive management and legislative staff. They serve as lead policy analyst and agency liaison to state and local government and industry, and prepare and present tax policy related testimony to legislative committees and workgroups; or
• Positions research, analyze, draft, and ensure compliance with Administrative Procedures Act (APA) requirements on mainstream excise tax WAC rules; or
• Positions conduct tax studies of major importance. They are responsible for the implementation, direction and review of all aspects of a study to include the assessment of impacts and policy implications from the agency perspective. Incumbents prepare and present testimony to legislative committees and workgroups; or
• Positions, as qualified legal practitioners, assist a Tax Policy Specialist 3 in the analysis and development of administrative tax policy, perform legal research, and prepare draft decisions and determinations for less complex taxpayer appeals.

Leads project teams in coordinating, integrating and monitoring complex tax policy analysis and tax program implementation;

Coordinates tax policy administration with all affected department functional areas as well as other state agencies, federal or local governmental jurisdictions and affected taxpayer groups;

Researches, analyzes, and drafts mainstream excise tax WAC rules; Conducts public hearings and receives testimony regarding proposed rules;

Assists in the research, analysis, and drafting of rules to be adopted as part of the Washington Administrative Code for all revenue acts administered by the agency;

Assists in the analysis, review, and drafting of proposed legislation and initiatives on matters relating to taxation;

Provides formal and informal technical legal and policy advice to assigned agency divisions;

Develops and recommends policy options and evaluates existing policies at the request of the Governor, legislators and executive branch agencies by means of statistical, survey, mathematical, and other scientific methods of analysis;

Designs and implements tax incidence, econometric, forecasting, and simulation models;

Plans, organizes, and supervises comprehensive economic, tax impact and/or operations research studies and analyses;

Performs legal research relating to proposed tax legislation or taxpayer appeals of Departmental actions;

Attends taxpayer appeal hearings with a Tax Policy Specialist 3; prepares draft decisions and determinations for less complex taxpayer appeals;

Performs other duties as required.

For Legislation and Policy positions:

A Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, accounting, public finance or closely allied field.

AND

Four years of professional experience in tax administration, tax auditing, tax collection, or tax program/policy analysis. A Master's degree or equivalent in a Ph.D. program in business or public administration, accounting, public finance, or closely allied field will substitute for two years of experience.

For Research positions:

A Bachelor's degree in economics, public finance or closely allied field.

AND

Four years of professional experience in economic analysis or tax program/policy analysis. A Master's degree or equivalent in a Ph.D. program in economics, public finance or closely allied field will substitute for two years of experience. A Ph.D. degree in economics, public finance or closely allied field will substitute for three years of experience.

For Legal positions:

Admission to practice law in the State of Washington; or graduation from an accredited school of law and current admission to practice before the highest court of a state.

AND

One year as a Tax Policy Specialist 1; or two years of experience as hearings examiner in a governmental agency, assistant attorney general, or practice as an attorney. An LL.M or Master's degree in taxation or closely allied field will substitute for one year of experience.

New class:  7-15-94
Revised new class code:  (formerly 15420)  effective July 1, 2007.
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, and desirable qualifications, adopted June 13, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.