- Home
- Income Tax Officer
Who is a Income Tax Officer?
The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax ~ Albert Einstein
Career as income tax officer is one of the most popular and prestigious job roles offered through UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) and SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level) examination. Have you ever wondered about the professionals who work in the Income Tax Department assessing your financial documents, assets and liabilities to get an idea of your accurate income when you file an ITR. These professionals are income tax officers.
The Income Tax Department is a central agency that collects and monitors tax. It is a compulsory contribution to be made by worker’s income, government and business profits. The role of an Income Tax Department is to administer direct taxation acts passed by the Indian Parliament. Here, in this article, we will discuss what is income tax officer, tax officer job description, how to become an income tax officer, income tax officer qualification, and income tax officer eligibility.

Income Tax Officer in a Nutshell
A career as income tax officer is considered to be an alluring career in civil services. There are numerous people who appear in examinations of civil services. There is strong competition to grab this magnificent opportunity of establishing a career as an income tax officer. It is considered a great chance to contribute to a nation’s development through this career.
Quick Facts for Income Tax Officer
-
Industry
Finance
-
Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
The career as an income tax officer is suitable for everyone regardless of gender. Whether a person is male, female or belongs to any other gender, he or she can opt for this career.
-
Any special needs
Yes
The career is suitable for candidates of special needs. It majorly involves analysing the financial documents and inspecting other businesses and working professionals for determining the accurate assessment of filings on income tax returns.
Table of Contents for Income Tax Officer
What is the role of Income Tax Officer?
A career as an income tax officer comes up with abundant responsibilities. An income tax officer contributes to gathering the revenue for public welfare and running government institutions maintaining accounts of tax from different departments. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the government receives tax from businesses and citizens. A career as an income tax officer requires sending notices and conducting periodic checks for frauds and other illegal activities. An income tax officer provides assistance to people in tax related queries and problems.
A career as an income tax officer requires investigating claims of inability to pay taxes. The duties of income tax officer include researching court information for the status of liens, mortgages, financial statements or locating assets through third parties of people who do not pay taxes. An income tax officer is responsible for examining and analysing tax assets and liabilities to determine the resolution of delinquent tax problems. A career as an income tax officer requires communicating with companies, lawyers, colleagues and accountants.
Investigation
An Income Tax Officer is responsible for conducting a raid to those individuals, businesses, organisations who have filed an incorrect ITR or did not file an ITR. He or she is responsible for issuing notices for completion of assessment u/s 144
Assessment
A career as an Income Tax Officer requires assessing the correct income of those who have filed their income tax returns. He or she may call for information required for completion of an income tax assessment to determine filed ITR is same in the light.
What is the workplace/work environment of Income Tax Officer like?
A career as an income tax officer provides both desk work as well as exciting fieldwork. An income tax officer job role is considered as a reputable and most demanding role. It provides a proper work-life balance. There is only little provision for overtime. Impeding raids involves longer working hours. The career is defined by the department and going home at the right time.
Does Income Tax Officer require travelling?
Likely
A career as an income tax officer may often require travel to attend meetings and conduct a raid on the fraud of taxes by the assesses.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
Yes, a career as an income tax officer falls into certain shifts. It is a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm job role. It may often be required to work extended hours while working on field and conduct raids. Assessment month of financial transactions of individuals who file ITR also requires working extended hours. A career as an income tax officer provides full-time employment. Part-time, hourly basis, on-call employment and work from home employment does not exist in this career.
Employment Nature
Permanent
A career as an income tax officer is a permanent job role. An income tax officer is considered as a reputed and most competitive job role. Individuals are selected for this role on a permanent basis. The career may involve several transfers from one city to another city or state.
Work Place
Office Setting, On Field
A career as an income tax officer requires individuals to function in an office environment and on-field. An income tax department has several wings and duties may vary for each wing.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
A career as an income tax officer job is supported by information technology for efficient functioning. Rural areas are less developed as compared to urban location and do have an infrastructure based on information technology. income tax offices are located in each part of the country in urban areas and semi-urban areas.
Time Pressure
Likely
Yes, being an income tax officer requires working under frequent time pressure.
Overtime Details
An income tax officer in the investigation wing may often be required to constantly work three to four days without a break.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 45 Hours
A career as an income tax officer requires functioning a minimum of 45 hours per week. A career as an income tax officer requires working standard working hours of nine to five Several income tax officers may be required to work longer hours being involved in non-assessment duties such as raids, searches, arrests and other duties. A career as an income tax officer in investigation wing requires working on weekends too. He or she may often be required working constantly for three to four days without taking a break in between.
How to become a Income Tax Officer?
Steps to become a Income Tax Officer
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Income Tax Officer?
How to become an Income Tax Officer? What does an Income Tax Officer do? Who is an Income Tax Officer? Such questions emerge in the mind of every UPSC aspirant who prepares and appears in the examinations for Indian Revenue Services. We have mentioned below Income Tax Officer skills and how to become an income tax officer.
Communication Skills: A career as an Income Tax Officer requires to communication with accountants, companies, lawyers and colleagues. Effective communication is an essential aspect of this career.
Numerical Ability: A career as an Income Tax Officer requires good numerical skills. An Income Tax Officer requires to assess the financial information of individuals, businesses, government and public professionals.
Time Management: A career as an Income Tax Officer often requires working extended hours in the completion of the financial year. He or she is responsible for ensuring the ITR filed by assesses is accurate and there is any fraud of hiding assets involved.
Attention To Detail: A career as an Income Tax Officer requires you to pay attention to detail in order to investigate, survey, rectify and assess Income Tax.
Popular Online Competition Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Income Tax Officer?
We have provided below a list of certification courses that may help you upgrade your skills for an Income Tax Officer role.
Internship Availability
Career Path Progression for Income Tax Officer
We have mentioned below the hierarchy of a career as an Income Tax Officer.
Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax: An assistant commissioner of Income Tax Officer is responsible for interfering in the judicial matters under Chapter XX and section 288 of the Income-Tax Act, 1961. He or she is responsible for supervising matters related to the audit and public accounts committee. An Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax stays concerned all matters related to wealth-tax act, expenditure-tax act, estate-duty act and Benami transaction act.
Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax: The work responsibilities of Deputy Commissioner requires to check maintained registers in Income Tax Offices for recording audit objections and their disposals. He or she is responsible for pre-search enquiries and reconnaissance work. A Deputy Commissioner of Income-Tax prepares appraisal reports, keeps liaison with departments such as customs, central excise enforcement directorate, revenue intelligence and other related departments.
Joint Commissioner of Income Tax: The work responsibilities of the joint commissioner is similar to the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax. He or she is required to check maintained registers in Income Tax Offices for recording audit objections and their disposals. A Joint Commissioner of Income Tax is responsible for pre-search enquiries and reconnaissance work. He or she prepares appraisal reports, keeps liaison with departments such as customs, central excise enforcement directorate, revenue intelligence and other related departments.
Additional Commissioner of Income Tax: The work responsibilities of the Deputy, Joint and Additional Commissioner of Income Tax is the same. He or she is required to check maintained registers in Income Tax Offices for recording audit objections and their disposals. An Additional Commissioner of Income Tax is responsible for pre-search enquiries and reconnaissance work. He or she prepares appraisal reports, keeps liaison with departments such as customs, central excise enforcement directorate, revenue intelligence and other related departments.
Commissioner of Income Tax: A commissioner of Income Tax is involved in internal audits for the second check to arithmetic accuracy in the assessment of income and levy of tax. He or she is responsible for safeguarding the interest of both the revenue and assesses.
Chief Commissioner of Income Tax: A chief commissioner of Income Tax is responsible for fixation of the sanctioned strength of various cadres that comes in charge of each CIT and allocation of officers and staff to each CIT or CIT (A). He or she is responsible for vigilance and disciplinary matters. A Chief Commissioner of Income Tax is responsible for overseeing confidential reports of officials working in the region including those who work directly under him. He or she assesses immovable property returns. A Chief Commissioner of Income Tax controls budget and expenditure.
Also read - Career as Indian Foreign Service Officer
What is the job outlook for Income Tax Officer?
A career as an income tax officer is considered one of the most competitive job roles. Lakhs of candidates try their luck in UPSC and SSC examination to acquire the job role of Income Tax Officer. The number of assesses filing Income Tax Returns also increases every year. Therefore, it is expected to have an increase in the number of vacancies for income tax officers in upcoming years.
Every year the number of applicants appearing in the examination for a career as an income tax officer increases. Therefore, it becomes one of the competent job roles in the government sector. It is considered a reputable post in Indian society that is worth spending as many years as possible to attempt examinations in order to qualify it and acquire the job role as an income tax officer.
Student Also Liked:
Frequently Asked Questions for Income Tax Officer
Que. What is the minimum required education to become an Income Tax Officer?
Ans.A career as an Income Tax Officer requires a minimum bachelor’s degree to appear in the UPSC and SSC CGL examination.
Que. Which is required a B.Sc. or B.A. to establish a career as an Income Tax Officer?
Ans.Candidates are required to possess a minimum bachelor’s degree in any specialisation to establish a career as an Income Tax Officer. The recruitment of Income Tax Officers is made through UPSC and SSC CGL examinations. To fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria, candidates are required to ensure successful completion of a bachelor’s degree programme with an aggregate of 55 per cent marks.
Que. How many attempts can one make in the UPSC examination?
Ans.Candidates belonging to general category are eligible for 6 attempts till the age of 32 years. Candidates belonging to OBC category are eligible for nine attempts till the age of 35 years. Candidates belonging to SC/ST category can appear as many times he or she wants till the age of 37 years.
You might also be interested in
Questions related to Income Tax Officer
I am manisha gaur,neet aspirant...i want to apply for obc certificate....im applying from nta website...does income tax officer comes under competent authority??/?
Hello Aspirant,
The competent authority involves
- District Magistrate/ Additional Magistrate/ Collector/ Deputy Commissioner/ Additional Deputy Commissioner/ Deputy Collector/ 1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional Magistrate/ TaIuka Magistrate/ Executive Magistrate/ Extra Assistant Commissioner (not below the tier of 1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate).
- Chief Presidency Magistrate/ Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate/ Presidency Magistrate.
- Revenue Officer not below the tier of Tehsildar and Sub-Divisional Officer of the region where the nominee and/ or his/ her family lives.
I hope it helps.
Can CA become an income tax officer?
CAs can become income tax officers by applying in the respective department once the vacancies are released.
is old income certificate is canceled after renewal ?
Hey student,
Income certificate is a government document that serves as evidence of one's income that is earned from various sources. The certificate discloses, an individual or a family's income details.
The answer to your question -
Yes, it is obvious that once or when you are renewing your income certificate the previous one is obviously expired hence, we can say the old income certificate is not canceled but not valid after renewal.
All the best student,
Hope this helps you.
my height is 147cm am I eligible for becoming income tax officer
Hello student!!
Hope you are doing great. If you are willing to become an Income Tax Officer your age should be between 21 to 27 years age and must be graduate from any discipline. A relaxation of 10 years is given to the students who belong to SC/ST category and relaxation of 3 years for OBC category. In terms of physical standards the minimum height for male should be 157.5 cm and chest 81 cm. For females the minimum height is 152 cm.
So, If your height is 147 cm you are not eligible for Income Tax Officer.
Hope it helps!!
Meri 12th class ho chuki hai mujhe income tax officer banna hai
Hope you are doing well
Some of the steps are :
Get a bachelor's degree. ...
Meet the eligibility criteria. ...
Apply for the SSC-CGL exam. ...
Write the tier I exam. ...
Write the tier II exam. ...
Write the tier III exam. ...
Complete document verification and medical examination. ...
Qualify for the departmental exam for income tax officer.
If you want to become an Income Tax Officer after 12th, you will have to complete an undergraduate degree and then qualify the SSC CGL exam or the UPSC exam for Indian Revenue Services
Select your reason of reporting