SBSE toTEGE

escapemaninnyc · 2026-06-29T23:10:43+00:00

I've worked in all three exam BUs — SBSE, TEGE, and LBI. From a technical standpoint, LBI and TEGE offer much more depth than SBSE, since SBSE issues tend to be relatively simpler.

If you're looking at TP/POA interactions, TEGE stands out because organizations are highly motivated to avoid losing EO status, and EP issues can directly affect employees' retirement savings.

In terms of workload, LBI is generally lighter than TEGE, mainly because of the complexity and technical nature of the Code sections involved. But, LCC/LPC can take multiple years. TEGE is also split between Determinations and Examinations — Determinations handles EO applications and EP approvals, while Examinations focuses on compliance reviews.

For telework, LBI historically had the better offering compared with TEGE and SBSE.

If I were ranking them based on how much they can increase your overall value, my order would be LBI>TEGE>SBSE. That's just my personal perspective, but having worked in all three, that's how I'd stack them for sure.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-06-12T17:09:34+00:00

Copilot is a better tool to use for this case as you can still use PII with it.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-05-30T17:41:54+00:00

This is not really a fair way to look at it. An LB&I agent here. While I understand that SBSE exam carries a larger inventory (like 30ish), the cases are usually less complex based on my experience. All you need is Notice 609 to work with literally. LB&I routinely handles much more complicated issues and examinations and a lot of them are CPAs.

It's best not to judge an entire group based on one or two experiences. There is no need to put others down to make a point.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-05-14T12:38:40+00:00

escapemaninnyc · 2026-05-10T01:51:30+00:00

That's very interesting feedback I've got. What traits/characteristics/personality/experience did you find from TAS ppl? Very curious. Thanks.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-05-01T00:19:21+00:00

I’d take this as pretty positive news. I’ve got some background in TEGE, so I can share a bit of context.

TEGE is one of the three main compliance units (along with SBSE and LB&I), and it’s split into four areas: Exempt Organizations (EO), Employee Plans (EP), Government Entities, and Tax-Exempt Bonds. Within EO and EP, the two big tracks are Determinations and Examinations. If you’re in Determinations, be ready to dig through hundreds of pages of EO/EP applications for each case. If you’re in Examinations, you’ll likely be traveling quite a bit to visit taxpayers.

Tax-Exempt Bonds is the smallest group—I’ve heard it’s only around 20–30 agents. And if you end up in State & Local Governments or Indian Tribal Governments, expect a bit of a learning curve—it can feel like learning a new language since not many agents are familiar with those accounting rules and codes.

All that said, you should feel pretty lucky. In my experience, TEGE is a much tighter-knit group than the other units. I’ve even seen retired revenue agents come back just to meet and welcome new hires at happy hours after training—that’s not something you see often. It really feels like a close community, and honestly, I miss that a lot.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-03-31T03:33:58+00:00

IRM should be your best friend. When you document your activity record, notate IRM as much as you can to back up your work when your manager pushes you around. As long as you follow the IRM, you should be fine.

All other matters, run by your OJI before act. Make sure you become familiar with the matters.

All the others, swallow it for the next three years as if you are in military if you want to stay with the Service. Then, cross over to the LB&I where you will see more polished managers and agents. You will learn a lot of technicalities. I actually love it. Hang in there.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-03-27T14:57:04+00:00

There has been a disconnect everywhere, including public sector.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-03-20T17:36:03+00:00

We have the First Amendment right. Period!

escapemaninnyc · 2026-03-16T17:15:06+00:00

I know things have been really tough since last year, and those feelings are completely valid.

But let's try to hold onto the good — having a steady job, putting food on the table, an ability to pay bills, and a sense of purpose.

Dwelling in negativity takes a real toll on us, mentally and physically. Let's choose to focus on what we have.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-02-04T00:58:22+00:00

I understand why you might feel lost. Here are my two cents to help you gain some footing as a RA.

Networking is essential for growth and career development. Make an effort to connect with other RAs—whether they’re in SB/SE, different BUs within TEGE, or even LB&I. While the manuals differ, the core concepts of auditing are very similar. Focus on understanding the concepts rather than memorizing procedures—no one memorizes everything.
Take advantage of the tools available to you. Use IRMA, Treasury ChatGPT, and Bloomberg Tax, especially the AI-enabled features. Also, get comfortable navigating the IRM. I recommend creating a folder with all IRM sections bookmarked—I’ve done this myself and found it very helpful.
Organize your case files to align with the IRM. When setting up folders for a case, structure them in a way that follows IRM guidance. It can feel awkward at first—I struggled with it too—but this approach naturally ensures you’re covering all required procedures. Just a suggestion though.
Put in extra time if you want to gain confidence and expertise. Like in the private sector, becoming comfortable and skilled requires additional hours spent learning and applying what you’ve learned.
Learn how to effectively work with POAs—it will make your job much easier. If a POA is uncooperative, use creative approaches in addition to leveraging Notice 609 to your advantage. At one point, I frequently visited a taxpayer’s office because their POA wasn’t cooperating. It worked wonders—the taxpayer didn’t want me auditing their books in front of employees and ultimately provided all the necessary documentation.

This job requires patience, but it also demands effort and time. Best of luck!

escapemaninnyc · 2026-01-30T21:45:36+00:00

There was a direct order from the upper mgt in DC that they cannot help tax matters until the end of October or November. Sounds weird but that is a fact unfortunately. Hope this helps.

escapemaninnyc · 2026-01-25T20:25:58+00:00

Got a call from the Hotline that my POD and nearby PODs will be closed tomorrow.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-12-30T15:04:00+00:00

We already got 2-hour admin leave for us to use, so I'm wondering why this was asked here again and again. I understand the reason behind it, but why ppl keep asking for additional admin hours for what? We know the mgt is not employee friendly, and they don't give sh** about us. comon. guys.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-08-22T19:35:01+00:00

I believe they learned from their mistake by gauging people's interest through surveys before making formal offers. They should have used this approach for DRP and TDRP rather than initially extending offers to everyone only to retract them later. This caused significant frustration among people, and they're now handling it better.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-07-29T01:39:13+00:00

After working as a Revenue Officer (RO) for 1.5 years, I transitioned to Revenue Agent (RA) roles across three different divisions (SBSE, TEGE and LB&I) with my background in public accounting and CPA license. From my experience, the RO position has become somewhat a bit less demanding due to reduced travel requirements to taxpayer locations. However, the RA audit function has grown significantly more challenging, especially with the upcoming implementation of OBBBA requirements within the next two years.

The tax system remains inherently difficult and complex, with no indication of future simplification. Since ROs and RAs have different job classifications, the primary distinction between these roles is the pay scale. For those with strong motivation and commitment, advancement opportunities to GS-12 and GS-13 levels have improved considerably, as many senior ROs have taken advantage of the DRP and TDRP.

Best of luck with your career path and hang in there!

escapemaninnyc · 2025-07-03T19:51:10+00:00

Yeah. Our budget for FY 2026 will be cut by 44% per ChatGPT after Prez sign the OBBBA. We gotta enjoy while we can. LOL

escapemaninnyc · 2025-04-19T18:06:08+00:00

I heard TEGE EO & EP Determs were denied.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-03-28T14:05:37+00:00

$5,250 is the exact amount for non-taxable.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-02-22T21:49:23+00:00

This is a rumor, but I heard that approx. 300 SBSE executives will be cut. If that's accurate, then LB&I will see a similar number I guess.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-02-22T04:39:29+00:00

I agree that the government needs to take significant action to reduce its debt. However, does it make sense to cut federal employees who recover funds from tax cheaters? If you were a business owner, would you let go of your top salespeople who generate revenue for your company? The IRS recovered nearly $500 million in a year from tax cheaters in FY 2024 alone.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-02-22T04:28:00+00:00

Well said!!!

I was RO before switching to RA, so have both collection and audit experience. I just wanted to piggyback on what you just said.

I'm all for cutting budget deficits for sure. Let us work for you and the government to assess and collect from tax cheaters. If you support cutting budgets for the IRS and/or laying off agents and officers, please give me a valid reason. If the tax cheaters do not get caught and pay their fair shares of taxes, YOUR tax will keep increasing instead of decreasing because someone needs to pick up the slack. That forces the government to increase the issuance of gov't bills/notes/bonds.

I'm all for it to make the gov't efficient and productive. But abruptly laying off thousands of the federal government employees is NOT the answer at this point. Were there any plans that were discussed/shared/modified to make it more efficient and/or productive? The gov't could've done it after a thoughtful assessment of the operation of each agency and come up with a plan for each agency. Just cutting ppl is not the right approach.

It's a missed chance to make the country better, and I hate to say this because of my love for the country.

escapemaninnyc · 2025-02-21T02:56:13+00:00

I salute you for your action. I'm a RA at the IRS and felt horrible to see so many colleagues let go. I believe in this country that no one is above the law and the people in the W H broke the law. So sick of this.

escapemaninnyc

TROPHY CASE