How to Become Income Tax Officer? | Check Eligibility Criteria, Salary, Details and Importance of an Income Tax Officer

How to Become Income Tax Officer?: An Income Tax officer is an officer responsible for the Central Board of Direct Taxes’ income tax-related matters, also known as CBDT. Also known as I.T.O. (Income Tax Officer), they are supposed to look for all those who do not pay their income tax and inform their respective departments. The departments then take their required measurements to make sure that the defaulters pay their tax.

An ITO should possess skills like high mathematical analysis ability. They need to be innovative and discreet to successfully handle all the tricky people who wrongly use their influence to get rid of their country’s responsibilities.

It is not just a job, but a way of life. It promises impressive career aspects with assured growth. It is an extremely prestigious job and places you on a higher pedestal than others. It requires severe willpower and determination to deal with different people searching for opportunities to skip the income tax. If you are an Income Tax Officer, you will make considerable contributions to your country’s growing economy.

There are mainly two entrance examinations by which you can be a part of the IT (income tax) department, namely –

  • SSC (Staff Selection Commissioner) CGL (Combined Graduate Level) exam and,
  • UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)

Content in this Article:

How to Become an Income Tax Officer?

Dreamed to become an IT Officer? Looking for valid pages to know how to become Income Tax Officer? If yes, then this article gonna help you completely. From here, you guys will find the entire process to become an Income Tax officer. So, check out the page and follow the instructions that are required and prepare yourself to face all the stages with smart work and hard work. First, we will start with the initial requirement ie., eligibility criteria, followed by an application for the exam (SSC CGL Exam), selection process, training, etc.

If you are a graduate below the age of 30 years, the first step is to apply for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to become an Income Tax Inspector. For more details continue your read & get every single detail about how to become an income tax officer.

Income Tax Officer Eligibility Criteria

The Indian Government mentions specific requirements for becoming Income Tax Officers. The prerequisites are as follows:

Physical Requirements 

Male Candidate

  • Physical Standards
    • Height- 157.5 cm
    • Chest- 81 cm
  • Fitness Test
    • Walking: 1600 m in 15 minutes
    • Cycling: 8km in 30 minutes

Income Tax officer Eligibility for Female Candidate

  • Physical Standards
    • Height: 152 cm
    • Weight: 48 kg
  • Fitness Test
    • Walking: 1 km in 20 minutes
    • Cycling: 3km in 25 minutes

Educational Qualification

It is the same for male and female candidates. Any graduation degree from any recognized university in any discipline is the minimum criteria to be fulfilled to be able to sit for the exam.

Age Requirement

The candidate must be 18 years on 1st July of the year of Examination and should not exceed 27 years of age on that date. The age criteria are relaxed for OBC candidates and SC/ST candidates. Not more than 27 years (3-13 years of relaxation for reserved categories). The age limit is also relaxed, favoring specific categories of employees working in India’s Government and other defense personnel.

What Qualification Required for Income Tax Officer?

In order to become an Income Tax Officer in India, you need to fulfill certain requirements defined by the Indian government. Below are the key requirements for income tax officers:

Educational Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree from a Recognized University
Age Limit Not more than 27 years (3-13 years of relaxation for reserved categories)
Qualifying Exam SSC CGL Exam
Income Tax Officer Syllabus Preliminary Exam: General Intelligence and General Awareness & Arithmetic
Mains Exam: General Studies (Reasoning and Awareness); English Comprehension; Arithmetic Abilities; Language; Communication Skills and Writing

Salary Information for Income Tax Officer

An Income Tax Officer has a pay scale of Rs.9500-Rs.34,500. How To Become income tax officer salary is different for different cities. The Government of India has defined the pay range for its employees at various posts. However, with new pay commissions appointed, the numbers keep changing.

The average salary per month for a specific city A is mentioned below:

  • Basic Pay: INR 44,900 HRA: INR 10,776
  • DA: INR 7,633
  • TA: INR 3,600
  • DA on TA: INR 612
  • Gross Earning: INR 67,521
  • NPS Deduction10%: INR 5,253
  • CGHS: INR 350
  • CGEIS: INR 30
  • Total Deduction: INR 5,633
  • Net Earnings: INR 61,888
  • Government Contribution: INR 7,355

Similarly, the average salary per month for a specific city B is mentioned below

  • Basic Pay: INR 44,900
  • HRA: INR 7,184
  • DA: INR 7,633
  • TA: INR 1,800
  • DA on TA: INR 306
  • Gross Earning: INR 63,929
  • NPS Deduction10%: INR 5,253
  • CGHS: INR 350
  • CGEIS: INR 30
  • Total Deduction: INR 5,633
  • Net Earnings: INR 58,296
  • Government Contribution: INR 7,355

Similarly, the average salary per month for a specific city C is mentioned below:

  • Basic Pay: INR 44,900 HRA: INR 3,592
  • DA: INR 7,633
  • TA: INR 1,800
  • DA on TA: INR 306
  • Gross Earning: INR 60,377
  • NPS Deduction10%: INR 5,253
  • CGHS: INR 350
  • CGEIS: INR 30
  • Total Deduction: INR 5,633
  • Net Earnings: INR 54,704
  • Government Contribution: INR 7,355

Hence, it is clear from the above salary structure that an Income Tax Officer’s salary is dependent upon the place of their posting. Apart from the basic pay, based on the rank, officers are entitled to different kinds of allowances like Leave Travel Allowance, Medical, subsidized housing, to name a few.

Do Refer: Highest Salary Jobs for Commerce Students

Qualifying Exam for the Post of Income Tax Officer

Staff Selection Commissioner (S.S.C.) includes vacancies under the CGL (Combined Graduate Level) exam. It is a written exam accompanied by an oral test (personal interview).

The CGL is conducted mainly in two phases. Phase one is a screening exam, and phase two is the exam considered for a candidate’s marks. Phase two exam is further divided into two parts- part one is a written exam, and part two is a personal interview. The marks obtained in phase two are considered and evaluated for the rank of a candidate.

Apart from the How To Become Income Tax Officer Through SSC CGL, one can opt for the Indian Revenue Service through the UPSC exam.

Details of SSC CGL Income Tax Inspector Exam

  • Name of conducting body: SSC (Staff Selection Commissioner)
  • Name of Exam: CGL (Combined Graduate Level) Exam
  • Exam pattern: The Examination comprises of three stages:
    • The preliminary Examination
    • The main Examination
    • The personality test or the personal interview

Complete Exam Pattern of SSC CGL IT Inspector Exam

The preliminary Examination is the qualifying exam, and the marks obtained in this test are not added to the final result. It comprises two papers, Part A & Part B and the detailed exam pattern is given below:

Section Subject Number of
Questions
Maximum Marks  Time 
Part A General Intelligence
and General
Awareness
100 100 2 Hours
Part B Arithmetic 100 100 2 Hours

The main Examination is attempted by candidates who have qualified in the prelims. It consists of part A, a written exam, and the next part is a personality test.

The main exam has five subjects:

Written Exam Subject  Maximum Marks  Time 
General Studies (Reasoning and Awareness) 200 3 Hours
English Comprehension 100 2 Hours 20 minutes
Arithmetic Abilities 200 4 Hours
Language 100 2 Hours 20 minutes
Communication Skills and Writing 200 2 Hours 20 minutes

In the personality test, candidates are faced with various questions to bring out the actual character. They are given different situations to test their presence of mind and mental abilities.

Cutoff Marks for SSC CGL 

The cutoff marks for Income Tax Inspector are generally very high. The cutoff for various categories for previous years is given below:

  • General- 75/700
  • OBC- 75/700
  • SC- 25/700
  • ST- 50/700
  • Ex-serviceman – 50/700
  • OH – 50/700
  • HH – 00/700

Eligibility

A candidate applying for the Income Tax Inspector must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized University or equivalent.

There are physical standards, as well:

  • For a male candidate, the required height is 157.5 cm.
  • For a female candidate, the required height is 152 cm.

Selection Process for IT Inspector

The below table will make you understand the selection process of the IT Inspector. Clear all the stages involved in the process and become an Income tax inspector:

Tier Type  Mode
Tier I MCQ Online
Tier II MCQ Online
Tier III Descriptive Paper in English/Hindi Offline
Tier IV Skill Test Offline

Training of an Income Tax Officer

Training is held for all the selected candidates. The preparation is conducted for 12 weeks at the National Preparation Center for Direct Taxes (DTRTI) in the area to which they were posted. It lasts for around 12 weeks, where they are taught various tax codes, regulatory processes, and forces of inquiry.

They are made aware of all the real-life scenarios they might have to face. They are made well accustomed to their job profile and what the job demand from them.

  • Phase 1 of Training: The initial few weeks of the training mainly focus on the theoretical approach of various subjects like Direct Tax laws, Advanced Accounting and Finance, and Business Laws. The first departmental exams are held at the end of the first module.
  • Phase 2 of Training: The second module is primarily about the field and practical works. The candidates are made familiar with international tax practices through interactions with various Attachments in foreign countries. Quite a few guest lecturers are invited to motivate the candidates and make them aware of their job demands.

Possibility of Becoming IT Officer Through USPC

The Union Public Service Commission, popularly referred to as UPSC, is India’s topmost central recruiting agency for public servants. It is responsible for appointments to and conducting examinations for All India services and group A & group B of Central services. The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examinations every year. Similar to the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS)- candidates can opt for the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) through the UPSC.

At first, one is appointed in the revenue and taxation department. After proper training and experience, one is designated as an Income Tax Officer.

Once you’ve passed all the stages of the examination, you will be appointed as an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax which is a Group A Post.

Role of an Income Tax Officer

The income tax department comprises of two departments:

  • Non-Assessment Department
  • Assessment Department

Non-Assessment Department

In the Non-Assessment Department, the candidate is part of the fieldwork, mainly part of a raiding team or a rapid response team. The candidate will be responsible for handling defaulters.

Assessment Department

In the Assessment Department, the candidate will primarily do desk work and carry out works assigned to them by the income tax inspector.

Overall, with field and desk work, it is a lucrative job. The Government fixes the working hours. It is as usual from 9 am to 5 pm. However, there is no surety for working hours in fieldwork, and it can get extended.

It has various lucrative opportunities and hence, is a very luring exam to the country’s youth. The aspect of the time-to-time promotion is attractive. It is a highly reputed career and assures a good life.

Every year, the number of candidates appearing for the exam is increasing exponentially. Hence, it is becoming difficult day by day to crack the exam. The success rate is decreasing as a result of the increasing number of candidates.

The Income Tax department guarantees a stable career with periodic promotion. The various ranks in increasing order of rising and importance are as follows:

  • Income Tax Inspector
  • Income Tax Officer (I.T.O.), (group B) Gazette
  • The Assistant Commissioner of IT (ACIT.)
  • Deputy commissioner of IT (DCIT)
  • Joint commissioner of IT (JCIT.)
  • Additional commissioner of IT (ADCIT.)
  • Commissioner of Income Tax

Powers of an Income Tax Officer

Powers of an Income Tax Officer under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act of 1995 is as follows:

  • Income Tax Officers have the power to enter and search any building, place, vessel, vehicle, or aircraft where they have reason to suspect that things that have been not accounted for have been
  • Income Tax Officers have the power to break open the lock of any object, which is potentially a hiding place for illegal things when the keys thereof are not
  • Income Tax Officers have the power to search any person irrespective of his place of residence if the officer is authorized and has a legit reason to suspect that they have secreted about their books of account or any other documents, money bullion, jewelry or other valuable article or

Importance of an Income Tax Officer

Many influential people in our country make inappropriate use of their power and skip from giving the income tax. Often, we get to hear about various tax frauds happening in our country. The raids which take place bring forward the actual amount which a defaulter skips. The Income Tax Officers are responsible for initializing these raids. They make sure that a substantial tax amount is paid to the Government after analyzing different personal and business accounts. They are responsible for the smooth functioning of the economic sphere of the country.

Income Tax Officer Extra Perks

Income Tax Officer in itself is a well-paid job. However, it is accompanied by many additional perks. They enjoy an enormous scale of salary with added high grade pays.

An IPS or IAS officer has a significant amount of interference from various political parties. However, that is not the case for an IT officer. They are much more independent in their sphere of work.

IT officers of high ranks also get opportunities to visit foreign countries through their work.

They are provided with various benefits from the central Government. Based on their area of posting, they get the facility of lavish housing. If an officer is posted in a rural area, they might get a bungalow to reside with their families. They get pretty decent flats in case the posting is in some city. If they do not opt for housing, they are provided with the house rent.

Officers posted in high ranks get the luxury of chauffeurs for their vehicles. It has fewer aspects of transfer which implies a more stable job.

They do not have to think about their mobile bills, medical bills, or other daily necessities. Overall, it is a dream job for many.

It is a career that surely boosts your social status. The workplace has a great ambiance.

FAQ’s on How to Become Income Tax Officer?

Question 1.
Can a student, after completing class 12, apply for the post of Income Tax Officer?

Answer:
The minimum requirement to sit for the exams is a Bachelor’s degree. Without a graduation degree in any discipline, one cannot sit for the SSC CGL exam. Hence, you cannot apply for the post of Income Tax Officer.

Question 2.
Can girls sit for the exam for the post of Income Tax Officer?

Answer:
Yes, girls can very much sit for the exam. Educational and age requirements are the same as their male counterparts. However, the physical conditions are different. The height required is 152 cm, and the weight is 48 kg.

Question 3.
Is physical fitness an essential requirement for the exam?

Answer:
Yes. Male and female candidates have different fitness standards. For females, they have to walk 1 km within 20 minutes and complete cycling at a distance of 3 km within 25 minutes. For males, they have to walk a distance of 1600 m within 15 minutes and full cycling at a distance of 8km within 30 minutes.

Question 4.
What is the pay scale of an Income Tax Officer?

Answer:
The pay scale is different for different ranks based on the place where they are posted. On average, it ranges from INR 9,500 to INR 34,500.

Question 5.
What are the exams one can appear for the post of Income Tax Officer in India?

Answer:
The main exam is the CGL conducted by the SSC. It comprises three stages- the prelims, the mains, and the personal interview. The prelims are just a screening exam. The marks obtained in this exam are not added to the final score. The candidates who qualify in this stage are allowed to write the main exam, followed by a personal interview. The personal interview is meant to judge the candidate based on their presence of mind and ability to handle tricky situations.

Question 6.
How is the prospect of promotion in this career?

Answer:
If started at an early age, with the right amount of dedication and perseverance, one can climb their way up to the rank of the Commissioner of Income Tax Department.