How Can I Become Indian Revenue Service officer in India?

Recruited by the Government of India through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, IRS officers are very crucial in uplifting the financial integrity and economic growth of the nation. The IRS Exam (Indian Revenue Service) comes in the range of the Union Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue.

Let this blog take you into the essential ways and requirements to realize your dream of becoming an Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax).

Indian Revenue Service

The Indian Revenue Service abbreviated as IRS is an Indian Department accountable for the administration and collection of direct and indirect taxes. This department comes under the category of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance. The Revenue Secretary will monitor the administration.  IRS is committed to supervising Direct Taxes laws via the Income Tax Department (ITD).

Since this posting involves authority and responsibility, it is the most sought-after one among the other UPSC posts. Just similar to other posts, the recruitment for this is also done through the three stages:

  • Preliminary Exam
  • Main Exam
  • Personality Test (Interview)

Considering our nation, the IRS is a crucial service and this influences most candidates to have the aspiration of becoming IRS Officers.

What is the eligibility for the IRS Exam?

Education qualification:

Candidates are expected to possess any of the below credentials:

  • A degree accomplished from a central/state/renowned university
  • Or any equivalent qualification
  • Candidates in the final year graduation are also qualified

Nationality

For appearing in the IRS Exam, the candidate should be:

  • A citizen of India

or

  • Citizen of Nepal

or

  • Citizen of Bhutan

or

  • A Tibetan refugee came to India (before 1st January 1962) and settled permanently in India,

or

  • Citizens of Indian origin migrated from places such as Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, the United Republic of Tanzania, Ethiopia and Vietnam and permanently settled in India.

Age limit

  • The candidates for the IRS Exam should have a minimum age of 21 years and the maximum age limit of 32 years

Age relaxation for specific categories:

  • For the OBC category – Up to 35 years
  • For SC/ST category candidates – Up to 37 years
  • Physically handicapped people are given upper-age relaxation

Age will be calculated as of August 1st of the examination month.

Procedure to apply for the IRS Exam

  1. Go to the UPSC official site – it is https://upsc.gov.in/
  2. Reach for the Examination Tab
  3. Then select ‘Active Examination
  4. Now ‘Apply’
  5. Fill information in the required fields
  6. Upload your photo and signature in the required size and format
  7. Preview the application form
  8. Submit

Training

After the shortlisting of candidates through the interview, the selected IRS personnel will undergo training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). This is a foundation course held for 3 months in Mussoorie. It is during this period candidates will be allotted with the service preference.

IRS (IT) OTs will be sent for specialized training of 16-month duration at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT), Maharashtra (in Nagpur).

Designations in the Service for IRS (IT)

Varied designations in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) are:

  • Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax or Entry-level (Probationer)
  • Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax
  • Joint Commissioner of Income Tax
  • Additional Commissioner of Income Tax
  • Additional director general or Commissioner of income tax
  • Principal Commissioner of Income Tax
  • Director-general or Chief Commissioner of Income Tax
  • Principal Chief Commissioner of income tax, member of CBDT, CBDT chairperson, and director-general of the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau

Application Fee for the IRS Exam

ReservationUPSC Exam FeeMains Exam Fee
General/OBC/EWS(Male)Rs. 100Rs. 200
FemaleExempted ( No fee)Exempted (No fee)
SC/ST/CandidatesExempted ( No fee)Exempted ( No fee)

 

Number of Attempts

CategoryNumber of attempts
General6
OBC9
SC/ ST/ PWDNo limitations ( up to upper age limit)

 

Roles and responsibilities

Here are the duties that an IRS officer will do:

  • Responsible to formulate and amend indirect tax policies
  • Levying and collecting taxes is the major responsibility of IRS officers
  • Reduce the amount of black money
  • Maintaining law enforcement
  • Investigating tax evasion
  • Represent India in its embassies, consulates, high commissions, and permanent missions to international organizations such as the United Nations
  • Preserve national interests in the country
  • Administer the direct tax policy
  • Avoid tax evasion and endorse fair taxation practices
  • Implement government financial policies that are relevant to revenue generation.

Salary structure of an IRS Officer

The salary of IRS officers will vary based on their ranks and the department.

As per the 7th pay commission, the salary range of an IRS Officer lies within the pay scale of Rs. 15,600 to 80,000.  And they are given a grade pay of Rs. 5,400 to 10,000.

Rank Pay ScaleGrade PayTotal Salary (approximately)
Assistant Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 15,600-39,100Rs.5,400Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500
Deputy Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 15,600-39,100Rs. 6,600Rs. 67,700 – 2,08,700
Joint Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 15,600-39,100Rs. 7,600Rs. 78,800 – 2,09,200
Additional Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 37,400-67,000Rs. 8,700Rs. 1,23,100 – 2,15,900
Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 37,400-67,000Rs. 10,000Rs. 1,44,200 – 2,18,200
Principal Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 75,500-80,000Rs. 1,82,200 – 2,24,100
Chief Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 75,500-80,000FixedRs. 2,05,400 – 2,24,400
Principal Chief Commissioner of Income TaxRs. 80,000Rs. 2,25,000 (Fixed)

 

Allowances and Benefits

  • Accommodation from the federal government
  • Travel allowance(TA)
  • Dearness allowance (DA)
  • City compensatory allowance (CCA)

And more…

Adopt a well-planned methodology and the best UPSC coaching. You can clear the UPSC CSE test and realize your dream of becoming an IRS officer.

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