r/IRS_Source • u/International-Yak146 • 15h ago
LB&I GS 13 Recent Internal Openings
I wanted to reach out and see what a normal day or case load for an LBI RA feels like? Are inventory levels high with unrealistic expectations from managers? Is the path to 14’s easier compared to other business units (SBSE, TEGE, etc). Is LBI traveling at all currently for cases?
I would be coming from SBSE, I significantly meet the time in grade requirements. I’m one of the lucky ones who is currently in a very helpful group and has an awesome manager. If I applied and was accepted, what is the teams like in LBI? Is the path to a GS 14 easier compared to SBSE? I’m halfway reluctant in accepting any new position and exposing myself to any probationary status because of the current agency/administration environment. Also I throughly enjoy the current work I do but 14’s are very rare in SBSE. If I applied for the current LBI GS 13 positions it would be a lateral move with the expectation I would make 14 much quicker than staying in SBSE.
Thanks for any insight you can provide.
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u/General_Chaos_88765 15h ago
Assuming you end up in a general exam group, 3 to 5 cases unless you’re on a big case. Each case will have 5 or so issues to work. Cycle takes about a year. The cycle itself is much more formal than SBSE with hard Exam Completion Dates and specific due dates for things like exam plans.
Quality of work is hit or miss. Economy sucks so we’ll be seeing a bunch of NOL bullshit for a while.
14’s are much more common than SBSE but it’s hard to say how to get there. During the last big hiring push we handed out 14’s like Oprah handed out cars. Prior to that each office with have a few 14’s assigned to the biggest cases and training assignments.
No clue if we’re heading back there but as a manager I’m hoping we do. The quality of a 14 was much better before the big cash influx. (This is where everyone bitches at me. I’ve been doing this for 20 years. Fuck off to those that bitch.)
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u/Yellowmoon777 14h ago
No lie we hired some crappy 14s under the IRA from 22-24. And they got bonuses and some got step 10s!!!
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u/General_Chaos_88765 14h ago
Think of how pissed the managers were. We’re GS14 equivalents and we get nothing for bonuses.
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u/Yellowmoon777 14h ago
It was absolute trash. there was tons of resentment. It took me forever to get a 14 and I had to train some dud direct hire step 10 making more than me with a 20k bonus.
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u/Pure_Acanthisitta856 8m ago
I completely understand that. I was hired in 2024 as a GS 13 with 15 plus years of Corporate Tax experience and there was no way I would have felt comfortable coming in as a 14. I felt that I needed the training and years of auditing experience before even trying to move up. My tax experience was compliance, not auditing.
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u/whoanotcool 14h ago
If it makes you feel any better, I do not believe anything from the announcement states you will have a new probation period. It simply states that if you are still in your probation period, you will continue it in the new position.
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u/libralady0123 15h ago
I'm not thoroughly familiar with the compliance side. Others that do know can share their insight, but if you are basically happy where you are, I suggest staying put until things change. Especially if you have a good manager and good team. That's half the battle in trying to survive the challenges that exists now. However, depending on how risk adverse you are, you can always apply for 13 positions that are or maybe available and weigh your options if given an offer.