**Income Tax Employees Nationwide to Boycott Official Celebrations Amid Protests**
Income tax employees across India are set to boycott the official Income Tax Day celebrations on July 24, as part of a growing protest against what they describe as the “persistent apathy” of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) towards their urgent concerns. The Joint Council of Action (JCA), which represents the Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF) and the Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association (ITGOA), has announced a series of escalating agitation programs that could disrupt tax administration operations across the country.
The protest will kick off with demonstrations on July 23 at all Principal Chief Commissioner, Chief Commissioner, and Principal Commissioner offices in 18 regions. The JCA expressed in a letter to the CBDT Chairman, dated July 21, 2025, that the administration’s chronic indifference to their pressing issues has forced them to take this stand.
On July 29, the JCA plans to hold half-day dharnas and demonstrations at major tax offices, suspending all reports except those required for parliamentary questions and court orders. They will also boycott outreach programs and refrain from participating in official meetings, both in-person and virtual. Additionally, black flag demonstrations are planned if CBDT members visit field offices.
From August 5 to 7, the JCA will conduct extended daily dharnas and completely halt search and survey operations, including TDS surveys, culminating in a full-day walkout on August 8. The JCA has highlighted numerous unresolved issues affecting 97% of the department’s workforce. Recent Annual General Transfer (AGT) orders issued on July 16 have exacerbated existing discontent by overlooking deserving cases based on genuine compassionate grounds. The long-standing practice of transferring officers back to their home regions after cooling-off periods has also been abruptly discontinued.
Delays in the overdue Cadre Review and Restructuring exercise continue to create “acute stagnation” within Group C and B cadres. A committee report on career progression for non-IRS cadres reportedly disregarded JCA proposals. Various promotion and regularization issues remain unresolved, including the regularization of Assistant Commissioners from the 2024 batch, which has been pending with the UPSC for over six months, as well as ad-hoc promotions in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh regions. There are also delays in preparing the All-India Income Tax Officer seniority list and addressing non-financial upgradation issues for the 2008-2011 batches.
Employees have raised concerns about “frequent and duplicative requests for data and reports” with “artificial deadlines” that ignore statutory time limits. The reorganization of Junior Assessment Officer charges, established during the implementation of the faceless assessment scheme, remains pending despite repeated requests. Furthermore, despite ambitious plans for digital platform upgrades, including Taxnet 2.0 and ITBA 2.0, the JCA criticized the lack of adequate hardware and software support.
As the protests unfold, the JCA aims to draw attention to the pressing issues faced by income tax employees and push for necessary reforms within the CBDT.
**FAQ**
**Q: Why are income tax employees protesting?**
A: Income tax employees are protesting due to the CBDT’s ongoing neglect of their concerns, including unresolved promotion issues, delays in cadre reviews, and inadequate support for digital upgrades.
