HowIndiaEarns

Government jobPay Level 7Group BNon‑gazetted

Income Tax Inspector

आयकर निरीक्षक

Pay Level 7 post in the Income Tax Department via SSC CGL — part office, part field work verifying tax compliance.

Income Tax Department (CBDT) · Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) · central government

In-hand pay at joining, per month

₹72,000–₹84,000

Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.

Exam
SSC CGL
Qualification
Graduate
Age limit
18–30 years
Transfers
Within your allotted zone/region
Work hours
Regular office hours; longer near deadlines and during search operations
Probation
2 years

Estimated in-hand / month

₹76,316

Gross ₹83,700 · CTC ≈ ₹11.3 lakh/yr

Level 7

Where are you posted?

Joining

Income Tax Inspector · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.

New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.

What you will actually do

  • Assisting Assessing Officers in verifying returns, documents and information
  • Field enquiries and surveys to verify income, transactions or business premises
  • TDS/TCS verification and compliance follow-up with deductors
  • Serving notices and recording statements
  • Taking part in search-and-seizure teams when assigned
  • Working on the department's online systems for case and demand management

A typical day

Most days start at the office going through case files and pending verifications assigned by the Income Tax Officer. A couple of days a week can involve visiting a business or bank for an enquiry, then writing up a report. Around return-filing and assessment deadlines the workload rises sharply. Occasionally you are called for a search operation, which can mean very early starts and long days.

Stress3/5
CalmIntense
Public dealing3/5
LittleConstant
Field work3/5
DeskOutdoors

Promotion path

Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.

  1. Income Tax Inspector (joining)

    Pay Level 7

    ₹72,000–₹84,000 in-hand

  2. Income Tax Officer (ITO)

    8–15 years (varies a lot by region) · Level 8 · via dpc

    ₹76,000–₹88,000 in-hand

  3. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax

    Further 8–12 years · Level 10 · via dpc

    ₹92,000–₹1,02,000 in-hand

Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.

How to get in

SSC CGLOnce a year

Staff Selection Commission

  1. 1.Tier-I computer-based test
  2. 2.Tier-II computer-based test (including computer knowledge module)
  3. 3.Document verification

Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Age 18–30. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.

The good

  • Respected post with real authority in field enquiries
  • Level 7 entry pay — among the best SSC CGL posts
  • Clear promotion path to a gazetted officer (ITO)

The hard parts

  • Promotion speed differs a lot between regions
  • Deadline seasons and search operations bring long days
  • Posting region may not be your home state

Postings

Candidates are allotted to a regional charge (a Principal Chief Commissioner region) based on rank and preference. Most transfers happen within that region, so your home state is often possible but not guaranteed.

Central government job securityNPS pension contribution by the government (14%)Leave travel concessionMedical cover (CGHS in covered cities)

Questions people ask

What is the in-hand salary of Income Tax Inspector?+

Income Tax Inspector is a Pay Level 7 post with a starting basic pay of ₹44,900. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹72,000–₹84,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.

What is the qualification and age limit for Income Tax Inspector?+

Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Age: 18–30 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC: 3 years, PwBD: 10 years (more for SC/ST/OBC PwBD), as per the notification.

Which exam do I need to clear for Income Tax Inspector?+

SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission).

Is Income Tax Inspector a field job?+

Partly. Most work is office-based, but enquiries, surveys and search operations take you into the field regularly.

Compare with similar posts

Income Tax Inspector vs Tax AssistantIncome Tax Inspector vs Assistant Section Officer

Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC)

टैक्स असिस्टेंट

Pay Level 4

Pay Level 4 desk job in the Income Tax or GST/Customs department via SSC CGL — mostly office work, steady hours.

₹42,000–₹50,000 in-handSSC CGL

Assistant Section Officer (CSS)

सहायक अनुभाग अधिकारी (CSS)

Pay Level 7

Pay Level 7 policy-support post in central ministries in New Delhi via SSC CGL — file work at the heart of government.

₹72,000–₹84,000 in-handSSC CGL

Books to prepare for SSC CGL

  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

    R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)

    The standard practice book for arithmetic. Strong on volume of questions; weak on shortcuts, so pair it with solved papers.

    See on Amazon

  • SSC Mathematics Chapterwise Solved Papers

    Kiran Prakashan

    Thousands of actual SSC questions sorted by topic. The quickest way to see what is really asked.

    See on Amazon

  • Objective General English

    S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)

    Grammar rules with exam-style practice sets. Good for error spotting and sentence improvement.

    See on Amazon

All 7 books for SSC CGL, CPO and other graduate-level exams

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Sources

This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.