Severe Staff Shortage at CBIC & CBDT: Tax Reforms Hampered by Nearly 59,000 Vacant Posts in Revenue Dept
The government had launched ‘Mission Mode Recruitment Plan’ under which the CBIC has recruited over 30,000 officers since 2022, yet the shortfall continues to persist
CBIC & CBDT
CBIC & CBDT
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) are reportedly struggling with a severe shortage of qualified and eligible staff to implement the ongoing tax reforms across the nation.
As per official data presented in the Lok Sabha, the two boards together face nearly 59,000 vacant posts - translating to a vacancy rate of 34 per cent in the CBDT and 39 per cent in the CBIC.
The CBDT, which is responsible for administering Corporate Tax, Non-Corporate Tax and the Securities Transaction Tax has a sanctioned strength of over 77,700, of which more than 26,000 positions remain unfilled.
Meanwhile, the CBIC which is tasked with overseeing Central GST, Customs, Central Excise and related indirect taxes has a sanctioned strength of 84,400 but is operating with around 33,000 vacancies. This acute shortage within the Revenue department of the nation is particularly concerning since both departments are at the heart of the government’s push for new tax legislation through the Income Tax Bill 2025 and related administrative reforms.
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Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Parliament that delays in recruitment are linked to a multitude of factors including litigation, court stays affecting Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) and reservation of positions under Compassionate and Sports Quotas.
He further added that promotional vacancies remain unfilled due to the lack of eligible candidates, while procedural delays with agencies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) have slowed direct recruitment as well.
In 2025 alone, the CBDT has reported 11,809 vacancies in Group B and C positions for direct recruitment through the SSC, while the CBIC has identified 1,796 inspector posts, 183 executive assistant posts, 771 tax assistant posts and 141 stenographer positions that are still vacant.
To combat the shortfall, the government had launched ‘Mission Mode Recruitment Plan’. As part of the mission, the CBIC have hired 16,320 officers in Group B and 14,346 in Group C since 2022, with almost 9,125 promotions in Group B and 1,378 in Group C. Despite the efforts, the overall shortfall remains a glaring reality.
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Earlier reports had noted that the CBIC had recruited just over 4,600 personnel in 2024 against a vacancy requirement of 37,000, prompting a Parliamentary panel to flag the “serious impediment” that this posed to enforcement and taxpayer services. The panel had at the time, stressed the urgent need for a structured manpower planning framework and employee retention strategies to reduce attrition and ensure timely recruitment.
With both CBDT and CBIC continuing to operate with severely understaffed branches in various parts of the nation, experts caution that the shortfall could deeply hamper operational efficiency and delay tax administration and reform measures.
The government has reiterated its commitment to address the crisis through bulk recruitment, but for now, the Revenue Department continues to operate with a major reduction in its workforce.
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