Careers in Income Tax Department in India

A career in Income Tax Department gives an individual an opportunity to work with the Government of India. It is one of the most important revenue generation setups of the Government in India. If you have a knack for numbers and also want to get a secure job, then you must definitely try getting an Income Tax Job in India. There are various services that this department offers. As it is administered by the GOI, a career in the Income Tax department is said to be very stable. It also gives the employees a chance to contribute to the development of the nation.

Income Tax job in India

The Income Tax department controls a number of Direct Tax Acts. They are the Wealth Tax Act 1957, the Gift Tax Act 1958, the Income Tax Act 1961, Interest Tax Act 1974, Securities Transaction Tax Act 2004, Fringe Benefits Tax Act 2004, Banking Cash Transaction Tax Act 2005, etc. There is an enormous amount of accountability and responsibility an IT officer deals with. They have to work with all kinds of individuals and businesses. Having an Income Tax job in India means that you will be part of the tax collection process. This funds the country’s most vital programs. These programs may range from security social services, maintaining forests, public facilities, infrastructure, environment, education and so much more.

Indian Revenue Services officers are involved with the collection, management, and policy formation of direct (income, corporate, wealth, etc) and indirect (central excise, service tax, and customs duty) taxes in India. They work under the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

Entry Routes

Candidates who aspire to join the Income Tax department also called the Indian Revenue Services Group A will have to apply for the CSE, i.e., Civil Services Examination. This is conducted by the UPSC every year. To be eligible for the UPSC exam, the candidate needs to fulfill certain criteria. They are

• Graduation from a recognized university
• As of August 1, the candidate must have above the age of 21 but must be below 30 years

Every candidate who is eligible for the exam would be allowed four attempts (Seven attempts for OBC candidates). The examination will be conducted in two parts: The preliminary exam and the Main exam. The preliminary exam is conducted to shortlist candidates. Only these candidates will then be allowed to appear for the main written examination. Once the candidate qualifies in the written exam, they will be called for a personal interview. Based on the marks in the written test and the interview, a merit list is made. This determines the choice of service. This is done by keeping in mind the options exercised by the candidate in their application.

Through UPSC, candidates can also aim for the Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Administrative Services, Indian P and T Accounts and Finance Service, Group A, Indian Audit and Accounts Service Group A, Indian Revenue Service Group A, Customs and Excise Service, etc.

The Income Tax Department conducts a separate selection examination for all posts besides those to be filled by the IRS. Good command over the number and various taxation laws and policies is a requirement to pass the test.

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Important Entrance Exam for Income Tax Job in India

For postgraduate, the entrance exam for IT jobs in India is conducted by two institutions: UPSC CSE and Income Tax Department Selection Test. Read below to get details of both.

UPSC CSE

Prelims exam

Paper 1 & Paper 2 (MCQ)

• General Knowledge
• Vocabulary
• Social Studies
• Science (6th -12th class)
• Indian Politics & Constitution
• Logical Reasoning
• Mathematical Aptitude

Mains Exam

There are 8 papers:

• Paper 1 Indian Language
• Paper 2- English
• Paper3- Essay
• Paper4, 5, 6, 7 – General Studies
• Paper 8, 9 – Optional Paper

Interview/ Personality Test

Get more details here – www.upsc.gov.in

Income Tax Department Selection Test

• General Intelligence
• Arithmetic Ability
• General English
• General Intelligence

Consists of 5 Paper (Objective papers)

• Paper 1 to Paper 4 are objective and comprises Tax Law & Taxes, Advance Accountancy, Allied Laws, Office Procedure
• Paper 5 is subjective

Get more details here – www.incometaxindia.gov.in

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Career Options for Income Tax Job in India

If you want a have a career option in the IT department in India, you have four options: Prosecutor, Tax Assistant, Inspector, and Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax. This is in order of ranking, starting from the lowest to the highest. Depending on what you want to do and your qualification, you can choose the one.

Prosecutor – is a lawyer that specializes in economic offenses. They are hired to represent the department in court when there is a case involving the department and any other party.

Tax Assistant – calculates and evaluates the total liable tax incurred by an individual or business. This is based on their income and the groups that they are categorized in. Tax assistants need to be good with numbers. To be able to do their job successfully, they need to have an approach to helping others.

Income Tax Inspector – manages and handles various subordinates under them. They have the authority to search and seize a person/goods if found questionable.

The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax – is also known as the area manager. They supervise inspectors and other subordinates in the job of collecting and diligence.

Job Description

As an employee of the Income Tax department, you will have certain tasks that you will have to carry out on a day-to-day basis. They are:

• Ensure that the government gets tax from businesses and individuals
• Manage accounts of tax from different departments
• Send notice and handle periodic checks for frauds and other illegal activities
• Aid people in tax-related problems and queries
• Examine claims of inability to pay taxes by investigating court information for the status of claims, mortgages, or financial statements, or by locating assets through third parties
• Examine and investigate tax assets and liabilities to determine the resolution of faulty tax problems
• Interact with companies, lawyers, colleagues, and accountants

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Pros and Cons of Income Tax Job in India

Working for the Income Tax department in India can be a dream for most Indians. But it may not be right for everyone. So to find out if this is the right career option for you, we have provided the pros and cons. You can weigh out the cons against the pros. This will help you decide if an Income Tax job is the right way to go for you.

Pros