The Full form of IRS is Indian Revenue Service also called as the administrative revenue service of the Government of India. IRS is one of the Group A services of central civil services. It functions under the Department of Revenue in the Union Ministry of Finance. IRS serves the nation through discharging one of the most important sovereign functions i.e., collection of revenue for development, security, and governance. Indian revenue service (IRS) has two branches:-
- IRS (Income Tax).
- IRS (Customs and Central Excise).
This article tells you all about the IRS, from duties to Salary to Perks and many more
Recruitment Process of IRS
IRS officers are recruited through the civil services examination conducted by the UPSC. This exam consists of 3 stages i.e. prelims, mains and interview.On entering the service, IRS officers are mainly trained at the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) at Nagpur. There is a Foundation Course for four months post which the officers receive extensive training for sixteen months in specially designed modules on taxation and allied laws, accounting, public finances, fiscal policy, office procedures and so on. During the training, they are also sent to various field offices and organizations across India. They are also sent abroad to give global exposure to the best taxation practices worldwide.
Duties of an IRS officer
IRS officers are primarily responsible for collecting and administering direct and indirect taxes accruing to the government of India. The duties of an IRS officer includes among others, formulation of taxation policies, handling policy matters in respect of investigation of tax evasion, updating, resolving and maintaining the relevant laws, administering the direct tax policy through its field offices across the country, and administering all the associated administrative functions pertaining to direct and indirect taxes.
IRS officer also negotiate treaties on behalf of the Indian Government in fiscal matters in both bilateral or multilateral forums such as OECD and Global form on Transparency in Tax Matters.
Required Skills:
- Communication Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Leadership and Decision making skills
- Research Skills
- Perseverance
- Quality of Patience.
Pros of IRS:
- Healthy work life balance as their work is generally confined to regular office hours.
- The luxury of getting posted in big/metropolitan cities.
- IRS officers have more stability of tenure; they can stay in a posted station for around eight years.
- Also, there’s almost zero political-interference and less pressure compared to other civil services.
IRS Salary Structure:
Indian revenue service is one of the most sought after jobs in India. Along with good monetary compensation, IRS officers are also eligible for various perks like accommodation, transportation, medical expenses and much more. The salary of an IRS officer depends on the rank they are holding in the government department. The below table gives information on the Designations and Pay scales associated with Indian Revenue Service (IRS).
| S.No | Rank | Department of Posting | Pay Band | Grade Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assistant Commissioner | Income Tax | ₹15,600 – ₹39,100 | ₹1,400 |
| 2 | Deputy Commissioner | Income Tax | ₹15,600 – ₹39,100 | ₹6,600 |
| 3 | Joint Commissioner | Income Tax | ₹15,600 – ₹39,100 | ₹7,600 |
| 4 | Additional Commissioner | Income Tax | ₹37,400 – ₹67,000 | ₹8,700 |
| 5 | Commissioner | Income Tax | ₹37,400 – ₹67,000 | ₹10,000 |
| 6 | Principal Commissioner | Income Tax | ₹75,500 – ₹80,000 | NA |
| 7 | Chief Commissioner Income | Income Tax | ₹75,500 – ₹80,000 | NA |
| 8 | Principal Chief Commissioner | Income Tax | A fixed salary of 80,000 | NA |
Perks of IRS Officer:
There are a number of perks and allowances given to an IRS officer. Also, the government offers much more than the private sector. Here are some of the benefits other than IRS salary:
- House Rent Allowances
- Health/Medical Treatment
- Retirement Benefits
- Lifetime Pension
- Water and Electricity bill is almost free
- Officer also has an option to study abroad, the expenses will be covered by the Government.
Eligibility Criteria for IRS Nationality:
The candidate who is willing to be an IFS officer should be either of the following:
- A citizen of India
- A citizen of Nepal
- A citizen of Bhutan
- Secondly, the candidate can be a Tibetan refugee who came to India but before 1 January 1962 for permanent settlement; or
- Migrants from any of the countries mentioned below for permanent settlement in India – Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, The United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam.
Educational Qualification:
Age Limit:
Relaxation:
- It is 5 years for SC/ST
- 3 years for OBC
- 5 years for the candidate of Jammu and Kashmir.
- 10 years for with people disabilities..
Number of Attempts:
- The general category has 6 attempts.
- However, there is no limit for SC/ST
- But, for other backward classes, there are 9 attempts.
Examination Pattern:-
Prelims:
Mains:
The candidates who crack Prelims sits for the Mains examination which consists of a total of 1750 marks. The final list of selected candidates is created on the sum basis of interview and mains marks. There are a total of 9 papers in the mains exam. Paper A and B is of 300 marks and qualifying in nature while the rest of papers carry 250 marks. Following are the papers in the mains –
-
- Paper 1( language is chosen by the candidate)
- Paper 2( English)
(BOTH LANGUAGE PAPERS ARE QUALIFYING IN NATURE WITH A MINIMUM OF 25% MARKS)
-
- Paper 3( Essay)
- Paper 4 – General studies I
- Paper 5 – General studies II
- Paper 6 – General studies III
- Paper 7 – General studies IV
- Paper 8 – Optional paper 1
- Paper 9 – Optional paper 2
(MARKS OBTAINED IN PAPERS 3-9 ARE CONSIDERED FOR FINAL MERIT LIST)