Archive · 20 Jul 2026
I-T Dept. Short of 27K Officers
The income tax department in India is currently short of nearly 27,000 officers and support staff.
The government has been taking steps to modernize the tax administration, including using digital technology for easier filing and processing of returns.
They have also declared 11 individuals as fugitive economic offenders and confiscated properties worth Rs 1,303.16 crore.
Despite these efforts, the department is still facing a significant shortage of staff.
The government is also working to restitute confiscated properties to the legitimate victims of economic offenses, with successful restitutions totaling Rs 73,015.03 crore.
The I-T department is short of nearly 27,000 officers and support staff as of January 1, 2026.
The government has taken measures to modernize the tax administration, including leveraging digital technology.
11 individuals have been declared as fugitive economic offenders since 2024.
Properties worth Rs 1,303.16 crore have been confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.
The government has successfully restituted properties valued at approximately Rs 73,015.03 crore to victims or legitimate claimants.
- Who
- The Indian government and the income tax (I-T) department
- What
- The I-T department is short of nearly 27,000 officers and support staff as of January 1, 2026.
- When
- As of January 1, 2026
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- Despite several measures taken to strengthen and modernize the tax administration, the government is facing a significant shortage of staff.
Government Measures
Staffing Shortages
Modernization Efforts
Government Measures
The government has taken several measures to strengthen and modernize the tax administration, including leveraging digital technology for ease of filing and faceless assessments.
Staffing Shortages
Despite these efforts, the I-T department is still running short of nearly 27,000 officers and support staff as of January 1, 2026.
Vacancy Filling Process
Government Measures
Vacancies in the I-T department are filled regularly in accordance with the terms of the mode of recruitment prescribed in the relevant recruitment rules.
Staffing Shortages
The continuous process of filling vacancies has not been sufficient to address the current shortage of staff.
- Date
- January 1, 2026
- Total Vacancies
- 26,997
- Fugitive Economic Offenders Declared
- 11
- Properties Confiscated
- Rs 1,303.16 crore
- Properties Restituted
- Rs 73,015.03 crore
- Restitution in FY 2024-25
- Rs 15,262.30 crore
- Restitution in FY 2025-26
- Rs 32,677.97 crore