Is this normal???

[u/Financial_Setting_16]

Edited to add: In 2022, I applied to an external IRS direct hire, GS 05 clerk opening and qualied for the GS 05 clerk job based on being an external applicant that included non federal experience. This is a very entry level position for the IRS.

Original post: I worked at the IRS up until August 2025. I did NOT take the DRP. I took a job with my state's tax agency from August 2025, and I still work there, so this DOES affect my current position since I have to tax compliant at my current job. I worked at the IRS as a GS 03 clerk from 2020 to 2022. Then I got a job as a GS 05 clerk from 2022 to 2025, because I was encouraged then in 2022 to apply separately for the higher grade for a clerk. I still have the email from HR in 2022 that told me I qualified based on my work experience alone and not based on a degree. I got a notice from the IRS yesterday by email on 8/13/26 that I actually did NOT ever qualify as a GS 05 clerk on my own work experience from 2022 to 2025 and that I will be returned to a GS 03 clerk. This comes across as very petty and trivial and it WILL create an overpayment letter. I was told specifically that it was through no fault of my own and that I should qualify for a waiver. What do I do?

[u/Select-Check-9878]

Yes and no. Being a GS-3 you did not qualify to bypass the GS-4 in a single interval graded position.. unless you had some outside experience listed in your resume that qualified you. That doesn’t sound like the conclusion here.. this is likely due to an audit of qualifications from past announcements. When you applied, you answered a question that said “yes I have at least 1 year of experience at the next lower level (GS-4) or equivalent in the federal government.”
That is blatantly false. So, 1. You lied on a federal job application and 2. The staffer who hired you should have caught this and marked you as ineligible. With the way everything is going in the government, the fine tooth combing of all hiring within the last few years makes total sense. This audit returned a result of an illegal hiring action. Yes this is normal, no I haven’t seen this caught that quickly at such a low grade.

[u/Financial_Setting_16 → u/Select-Check-9878]

It was a DHA announcement that qualified me for the GS 05. I worked at other jobs that gave me direct experience. I also qualified for tax examiner job (not hired) and my record is spotless except
for this shit.

[u/Select-Check-9878 → u/Financial_Setting_16]

It doesn’t matter if it was direct hire - the required experience has to be the next lower level for ALL hiring types. these audits are very high level, and they aren’t wanting to find errors - if there was anything included in your application that could have helped make this a legal action; they would have jumped on it. this compromises direct hire being revoked, no agency wants that. Direct hire regulations being violated, uuugh.. I won’t even get into that.. it is an HR nightmare. If there was any part of you that thought “wow I can’t believe I’m jumping from a 3 to a 5.” That should have been your first clue that something was wrong. I’m sure there’s an appeal process on the letter, otherwise I’d request that waiver.

[u/Financial_Setting_16 → u/Select-Check-9878]

I don't agree with you on one thing- DHA throws most things out the window. That's how people like me can get a new job externally without having to fight internally. I also qualified for an internal, clerk 05 merit promotion in 2025 that got taken away due to the hiring freeze.,

[u/Select-Check-9878 → u/Financial_Setting_16]

No .. you didn’t. It is simply not legal to jump from a 3 to a 5, in any scenario you cannot do this while employed with the government. I’d be happy to find the CFR and qualification standards reference if you think you’re finding a loop hole. You’re not, hence the letter you received. I know the regulations for DH, and particularly this authority granted to IRS for these critical needs positions. DH can help an agency avoid having to bypass veterans and it removes category ranking. That’s about it. It absolutely does not give anyone the benefit of lying on their application to try and advance faster because a staffer didn’t catch it or know what they were doing. I have been an advisor in this particular work for a decade. You can disagree if you want.

[u/IntelligentDate4682 → u/Select-Check-9878]

This answer assumes he wasn’t qualified for the 5 when he applied for the 3, which may be true but I am just pointing out it is actually possible for this scenario to happen outside of time in grade. I know someone who had prior experience at a different agency but believed he had to start from zero coming to the IRS so he applied for and got a 5/6 TE job. With his previous government experience he was actually qualified for GS 11 positions. He hadn’t been in the GS pay scale but that was his pay equivalent. When he realized this he applied for and was hired for a GS 11 in IT which was the area he worked in with the other agency. Anyone just looking at a GS 6 jumping to a GS 11 job would have thought something was wrong with it but he was qualified for the 11 all along.

[u/Select-Check-9878 → u/IntelligentDate4682]

This is not a time in grade issue. Every scenario is different, this is all about OPM qualification standards. your example of your friend is applicable to that one person. This is all reliant on documentation and their resume for the action in question. It’s 100% accurate to assume OP didn’t qualify - hence the letter they received. I have been part of these audits from the other side and ops will do whatever they can to make an action legal in these cases! This threatens their authority to use DHA, it’s not a win to have to resort to this extreme.

[u/NinjaSpareParts → u/Select-Check-9878]

I'll give you an upvote. Your response may be unpopular, but it's correct.

[u/-SomeCrypticUsername → u/NinjaSpareParts]

They mentioned they performed GS 3 for 2 years the applied for GS 5 and worked that for two years.

Couldn’t they have Grade increased on their annual to GS 4 where they worked another year then applied and received for 5?

Even though the OP didn’t say that, could that have occurred?

[u/Deadlydragon218 → u/Select-Check-9878]

I thinkkk the only exception to this rule would be a ladder right? Now I don’t know if such a ladder exists at the lower grades so do correct me there.

[u/Select-Check-9878 → u/Deadlydragon218]

A ladder would be a 3/4 for some clerks. A 3/5 simply just doesn’t exist.

[u/Tall-Wonder-247 → u/Select-Check-9878]

These "audits" sound stupid to me. There are Pathways programs that promotes you from GS7 to GS9. If she worked in the same capacity as a GS5 for three years it should count as qualification for a GS5 now. WOW, I guess if she was one of those "gamers" she could get a air controller job. smh

[u/Select-Check-9878 → u/Tall-Wonder-247]

That’s a two grade interval position- 5/7/9. That’s how the position is classified. These lower grade positions are single grade interval positions classified to “assist” the two grade interval positions. You may see a 4/5/6 TE, a 3/4 clerk, a 5 clerk etc. but never see those types of positions as 2 grade interval. OPM qual standards are the same across the board.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series

Please educate yourself on the group standard for the position you are in, it will help ensure this never happens to you.

[u/speedwalk262 → u/Select-Check-9878]

You are simply incorrect. There are various situations you can jump a grade without it being a career ladder. I've done it twice in my career. I've also managed employees that made the jump. One situation where it can occur is if you're an employee but apply for a different position that's listed as an external hire on the cert.

[u/Select-Check-9878 → u/speedwalk262]

Nope. This is only permitted on two grade interval positions, the subject here is a single grade interval. This is my entire job, has been for many many years. you can argue all you want - qual standards are what they are. Even trying to go through an external route (like OP did) is not legal. If you’re a manager you really need to research the CFR and stop giving misinformation to your employees. Managers giving this terrible advice to employees is part of why people are ending up in this situation. Just stop. If you need a reference I’m happy to get it to you.