Tax Officer Salary (Australia)
Official Australian Public Service (APS) & Australian Government Tax Officer Salary Guide. Verified data from active departmental Enterprise Agreements and APSC resources.
Important Classification Notice
Tax Officer is a professional job title rather than a static official APS classification. In the Australian Public Service, these positions are typically classified across the APS3, APS4, APS5, APS6, EL1, and EL2 bands depending on the level of technical advisory, complexity of auditing, and department structure.
Tax Officer Salary Snapshot
Official wage ranges and estimated take-home pay structures across typical APS classification levels:
APS3 Level
APS4 Level
APS5 Level
APS6 Level
EL1 Level
Interactive Salary Calculator
Calculate your base salary, income tax (PAYG), Medicare levy, HELP/HECS debt repayments, super, and net take-home pay.
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
Salary Breakdown Allocation
Factual chart showing how your annual gross salary is divided between take-home pay and tax/Medicare deductions:
APS Tax Officer Level Guide
Overview of responsibilities and typical salary ranges for tax officers in the public service:
| APS Level | Typical Tax Role | Salary Range | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| APS 3 | Assistant Tax Officer | $70,865 – $83,000 | Handles entry-level processing of returns, answers basic stakeholder phone calls, and codes simple financial items under supervisor direction. |
| APS 4 | Tax Officer | $77,865 – $90,500 | Performs standard audits, reviews employer declarations, recovers simple debts, and reviews basic compliance documents. |
| APS 5 | Senior Tax Officer | $88,085 – $102,500 | Handles complex tax issues, reviews business activity adjustments, and leads compliance investigations. |
| APS 6 | Technical Tax Officer | $100,190 – $124,800 | Provides expert technical advice on tax laws, reviews complex audit findings, and coordinates compliance initiatives. |
| EL 1 | Tax Manager / Assistant Director | $120,750 – $151,200 | Leads tax audit teams, develops strategic compliance frameworks, and negotiates large-scale dispute settlements. |
| EL 2 | Director Tax Operations | $145,900 – $195,000 | Directs national compliance programs, coordinates with international tax registries, and advises on policy changes. |
Salary by Agency
Compare base salary scales across 8 federal departments:
| Agency | APS 3 Scale | APS 4 Scale | APS 5 Scale | APS 6 Scale | EL 1 Scale | EL 2 Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Taxation Office (ATO) | $72,500 – $79,500 | $79,865 – $87,500 | $89,085 – $98,400 | $101,190 – $119,780 | $125,000 – $145,000 | $150,800 – $182,500 |
| Department of the Treasury | $75,500 – $82,000 | $82,500 – $89,500 | $92,500 – $101,500 | $104,500 – $122,500 | $128,400 – $148,900 | $153,900 – $188,900 |
| Department of Finance | $74,800 – $81,500 | $81,900 – $88,900 | $91,900 – $100,900 | $103,900 – $121,900 | $126,500 – $146,800 | $152,500 – $185,500 |
| Australian Border Force (ABF) | $71,800 – $78,500 | $78,900 – $87,900 | $88,900 – $97,900 | $101,900 – $119,900 | $121,900 – $138,900 | $146,800 – $176,900 |
| Services Australia | $70,865 – $77,500 | $77,865 – $86,500 | $88,085 – $97,400 | $100,190 – $118,780 | $120,750 – $137,900 | $145,900 – $175,500 |
| Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) | $75,900 – $82,500 | $82,900 – $89,900 | $92,500 – $101,900 | $105,900 – $123,900 | $128,500 – $149,800 | $155,000 – $189,500 |
| Australian Securities & Investments Commission | $73,800 – $80,500 | $81,500 – $88,500 | $90,900 – $99,900 | $102,900 – $121,500 | $126,800 – $146,500 | $152,800 – $186,000 |
| Australian Competition & Consumer Commission | $74,000 – $80,800 | $81,800 – $88,900 | $91,200 – $100,500 | $103,500 – $121,900 | $127,200 – $147,200 | $153,200 – $186,900 |
What Does a Tax Officer Do?
Typical operational duties performed by tax compliance and assessment sections:
Tax Assessments
Reviewing taxpayer statements to verify correct declarations and process calculations.
Compliance Reviews
Examining business filings to verify adherence to taxation legislation.
Tax Audits
Conducting comprehensive audits on individuals and business operations.
Debt Recovery
Administering payment plans and recovering outstanding tax obligations.
Investigations
Reviewing potential cases of tax evasion, compliance violations, and fraud.
Objections Processing
Evaluating objections lodged by taxpayers against assessments.
Client Support
Providing clarification on complex taxation rules to business representatives.
GST Administration
Reviewing Goods and Services Tax calculations, claims, and refunds.
Income Tax Administration
Processing PAYG, personal income, and company tax statements.
Superannuation Compliance
Auditing employer compliance with the Superannuation Guarantee (SG).
Record Keeping
Maintaining documentation records and compliance audit trails.
Risk Analysis
Identifying tax avoidance patterns and highlighting high-risk profiles.
Tax Specialisations
Operational divisions and technical areas within the public revenue system:
Income Tax
Assesses personal and company tax returns under the Income Tax Assessment Act (ITAA).
GST (Goods & Services Tax)
Manages compliance, audits, and refunds for business activity statements.
FBT (Fringe Benefits Tax)
Audits employer-provided non-cash benefits and verifies compliance.
PAYG & Super Guarantee
Ensures employers withhold correct PAYG tax and pay standard super contributions.
Small & Medium Enterprise
Manages compliance reviews and support programs for Australian small businesses.
Public Groups & International
Handles high-value compliance for multinational corporations and high-wealth individuals.
Required Skills & Capabilities
Technical competencies necessary to execute tax assessments and audit cases successfully:
Tax Legislation
Deep understanding of the ITAA, GST Act, and associated taxation rulings.
Financial Analysis
Auditing business accounts, checking general ledger records, and identifying anomalies.
Microsoft Excel
Manipulating tax datasets using Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, and complex formulas.
Data Analysis
Utilizing data tools to identify compliance risk profiles and tax evasion patterns.
Communication
Explaining complex legislative requirements to taxpayers in a clear, professional manner.
Risk Assessment
Evaluating taxpayers for audit selection based on established risk matrices.
Investigation
Gathering audit evidence, conducting interviews, and constructing case files.
Report Writing
Drafting formal audit reports, technical tax rulings, and delegate briefs.
Stakeholder Management
Liaising with tax agents, business delegates, and legal representatives.
Problem Solving
Resolving complex disputes, interpretative differences, and processing issues.
Attention to Detail
Ensuring absolute accuracy in evaluating financial statements and calculations.
Preferred Qualifications
Qualifications depend on the level of seniority, but typical guidelines indicate:
- Baseline Degrees: Bachelors of Commerce, Accounting, Law, Economics, or Finance.
- Professional Certifications: CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants (CA ANZ), or CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser).
Government Systems Used
Operational workflows require daily usage of enterprise systems:
- ATO Internal Systems: Specialized case management and calculation databases for taxpayers registry files.
- SAP & Oracle: Standard accounting ledger platforms utilized across Commonwealth departments.
- TechnologyOne: Mid-tier general ledger database utilized by statutory authorities.
- Excel & Power BI: Sourced to build case registers, variance calculators, and compliance KPI dashboards.
Benefits & Work Conditions
Key employee benefits enshirined in Commonwealth agreements:
15.4% Employer Super
Generous super contribution paid in addition to base salary — providing a major retirement boost.
Annual Leave
Standard accrual of 20 days of paid annual leave per year.
Personal / Carer’s Leave
18 days of paid personal/carer’s leave accrued annually for health or caring needs.
Long Service Leave
3 months of paid leave after 10 years of continuous public sector service.
Purchased Leave (4+4)
Option to buy up to 4 weeks of extra leave annually through pre-tax pay adjustments.
Flexible & Hybrid Work
Formal hybrid work arrangements allowing WFH 2 to 3 days weekly.
Salary Packaging
Ability to salary package novated vehicle leases and portable electronic devices.
Learning & Development
Study assistance, paid leave, and fee sponsorships for CA / CPA / CTA qualifications.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Free, confidential professional counselling services for employees and families.
Tax Career Progression Roadmap
Typical milestones, required experiences, and indicative salary growth throughout a tax career in government:
APS3 Assistant Tax Officer
$70,865 – $83,000Milestone: Processing basic returns, resolving standard customer inquiries, and data administration.
APS4 Tax Officer
$77,865 – $90,500Milestone: Reconciling ledgers, processing standard compliance audits, and managing basic cases.
APS5 Senior Tax Officer
$88,085 – $102,500Milestone: Managing complex tax assessments, coordinating SME reviews, and supporting investigations.
APS6 Technical Tax Officer
$100,190 – $124,800Milestone: Providing technical rulings, advising business units, and leading complex audit cases.
EL1 Tax Manager
$120,750 – $151,200Milestone: Directing audit teams, developing strategic frameworks, and resolving high-value disputes.
EL2 Director
$145,900 – $195,000Milestone: Directing national compliance programs, managing risk, and advising executive board.
SES Executive
$210,000+Milestone: National leadership of business lines, advising Treasury on policy, and managing global registries.
Current APS Tax Vacancies
Tax and revenue roles are regularly advertised across the federal public service on APS Jobs.
Data sourced from official APSC vacancy boards. Last checked 31 July 2026.
Tax Officer Salary Trends
Historical and scheduled base wage increases enshirined under the 2024-2027 enterprise agreements:
Scheduled EA Wage Increases
Inflation & WPI Alignments
APS enterprise agreements enshrine standard salary increases designed to protect public servants from CPI inflation cost pressures. Wage indexation guarantees that tax salaries scale predictably over the multi-year duration of the agreement.
Available Downloads
Print-friendly resources and offline reference files: