Senior Indian Revenue Service officer Sushil Chandra appointed chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex policy making body for the income tax department. He will replace Rani Singh Nair, who retires this month-end. Chandra, a 1980 batch officer of Indian revenue service (income tax cadre), is currently member (Investigation) of the CBDT.

The appointments committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Chandra as chairperson of the CBDT to replace Nair, who is superannuating on 31 October, an order issued by department of personnel and training said. IIT graduate Chandra’s tenure will last till May next year.

Nair, a 1979 batch IRS officer, had taken over as CBDT chief on 1August this year. The CBDT is headed by a chairman and can have a maximum of six members.

The Chairperson, CBDT is the senior-most IRS civil servant in the Government of India. The Chairperson of Central Board of Direct Taxes is the ex officio Special Secretary to the Government of India and also cadre controlling authority of the Indian Revenue Service.

Though there is no fixed tenure, the average tenure of the chairman has been less than 2 years. His tenure however, can be extended.

The CBDT Chairperson is ex-officio special secretary and is under the direct charge of the revenue secretary of India.[2] He is placed above the officers of the rank of Lieutenant-General, Vice-Admiral or Air Marshal, CBI Director and Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General in the Order of Precedence.