Income Tax Departmental Exam 2026 - ITO, ITI & MS Exam Date, Schedule, Application Form & Full Notification

All India
Apply By: 21 Jul 2026
Status: Active / Open

Job Description

Overview

The Directorate of Income Tax (HRD) has officially announced the schedule for the Departmental Examination 2026. This internal assessment is designed for existing Income Tax Officers, Inspectors, and Ministerial Staff to facilitate career progression within the department. The examination will be conducted in an online computer-based format, adhering to the updated Departmental Examination Rules of 2026.

Key Responsibilities

  • Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in Income Tax Law and Taxpayer Services.
  • Participants are required to manage Advance Accountancy and Book-Keeping tasks effectively.
  • The role involves applying Allied Laws and Office Procedure in daily administrative functions.
  • Successful candidates will handle IT Applications and Operations as part of their departmental duties.
  • Staff must maintain accuracy in the computation of income and drafting of official documents.
  • Proficiency in Rajbhasha Hindi is essential for specific administrative and reporting requirements.

Why Apply

Qualifying for this departmental exam is a critical milestone for career advancement within the Income Tax Department. It provides a structured pathway for promotion and professional growth, ensuring that staff members are well-versed in the latest tax laws and operational procedures.

Important Dates

  • Application Start: 01 July 2026
  • Application End: 21 July 2026
  • MS Exam Dates: 28 September to 01 October 2026
  • ITO/ITI Exam Dates: 05 October to 09 October 2026

Quick Facts

  • Conducting Body: Directorate of Income Tax (HRD)
  • Exam Mode: Online (Computer-Based)
  • Maximum Attempts: 10
  • Location: All India

Income Tax Departmental Exam 2026 - ITO, ITI & MS Exam Date, Schedule, Application Form & Full Notification Overview

Registration Date
01 Jul 2026 – 21 Jul 2026
Exam Date
28 Sep 2026
Salary
As per departmental rules
Vacancies
Not specified
Eligibility
Departmental staff
Application Link
Apply Now

Vacancy Details

Internal departmental promotion exam; no specific vacancy count mentioned.

How to Apply

  1. Visit the official Income Tax Department website at www.incometaxindia.gov.in.
  2. Navigate to the departmental examination section once the portal opens on 01 July 2026.
  3. Complete the online application form with accurate personal and service details.
  4. Upload a clear, scanned passport-size photograph and your signature in the required JPG format.
  5. Review all entries carefully before final submission to avoid errors.
  6. Submit the application online before the deadline of 21 July 2026, 8:00 PM.
  7. Print the completed application form and sign it.
  8. Submit the signed physical printout to your respective Pr. CCsIT/CCsIT/Pr. CsIT/CsIT office for mandatory verification.
  9. Retain a copy of the submitted form for your personal records.

Cutoff Marks

As per departmental standards.

Application Fee

Not specified in the official notification.

Age Limit

No age limit prescribed for any category.

Selection Process

The selection process is based on a series of departmental examinations conducted in an online computer-based mode. Candidates must appear for various papers depending on their designation, such as Income Tax Law, Advance Accountancy, Allied Laws, and IT Applications. While most papers are objective, specific papers like Computation of Income and Drafting or Rajbhasha Hindi are subjective, requiring answers to be written in physical booklets. Final selection depends on qualifying these papers as per the departmental standards.

Exam Pattern

The examination consists of multiple papers conducted in two sessions daily. Objective papers are computer-based, while subjective papers require physical answer booklets. ITO and ITI papers cover Law, Accountancy, Allied Laws, and IT Operations. Ministerial Staff papers focus on Law, Computation, Office Procedure, and IT Applications.

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Organization

The Income Tax Department is a government agency under the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Established to administer direct tax laws, the department is responsible for the collection of income tax, corporate tax, and other direct taxes. It plays a pivotal role in the nation's fiscal policy, ensuring compliance, preventing tax evasion, and facilitating taxpayer services across the country from its headquarters in New Delhi.

Frequently Asked Questions

The ITO and ITI Departmental Examination 2026 is scheduled to take place from 5 October to 9 October 2026. The ITO exam is conducted in the morning session (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM), while the ITI exam is held in the afternoon session (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM) on each of these days.

The Ministerial Staff Departmental Examination 2026 will be held from 28 September to 1 October 2026. Most papers are scheduled for the morning session, except for Paper-V (Rajbhasha Hindi), which will take place in the afternoon session on 1 October 2026.

Candidates must apply online through the official website at www.incometaxindia.gov.in between 1 July 2026 (10:00 AM) and 21 July 2026 (8:00 PM). After submitting the online form, you must print it, sign it, and submit the physical copy to your respective In-charge of Examination office for verification.

No, there is no age limit prescribed for candidates appearing in the ITO, ITI, or Ministerial Staff examinations under the Departmental Examination Rules, 2026. All eligible departmental staff can apply regardless of their age.

All candidates, including those in SC, ST, or PwBD categories who are availing betterment opportunities, are allowed a maximum of 10 attempts. Please note that the 2026 MS Examination is counted as the first attempt for all candidates appearing in that specific category.

The examination is conducted in an online (computer-based) mode. For objective papers, candidates will select answers on the screen. For subjective papers, such as ITO Paper-IV and ITI/MS Paper-V, the question paper will appear on the screen, but candidates must write their answers in physical answer booklets provided at the exam centre.

Submitting the online form is not enough. Candidates who fail to submit the signed physical printout of their application to the concerned In-charge of Examination office will not be permitted to appear in the examination. Ensure you complete both the online and physical submission steps before the deadline.

Generally, candidates who have already qualified in a paper or the full examination are not eligible to re-appear. However, SC/ST/PwBD candidates who are eligible for betterment opportunities may re-appear to improve their scores after having qualified the entire exam. Check the official notification for specific betterment rules.
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