An IRS officer is a Group A civil servant responsible for managing, collecting and administering direct Income Tax and indirect customs taxes. The famous IRS officers in India include former CBDT Chairman PC Mody, T.S Krishnamurthy, Daya Shankar, Rahul Navin and K. V. Chowdary etc.
The Indian Revenue Service works day and night to ensure the smooth functioning of the economic framework of our country. They are responsible for managing and enforcing tax laws, ensuring revenue collection and curbing financial scams. IRS officer’s work often remains behind the scenes, yet their impact shapes the country’s financial stability and economic growth. They face immense difficulties, such as threats from smugglers and intense pressure to meet revenue targets. Over the years, many IRS officers have proven to be symbols of courage, persistence and determination.
Many notable IRS officers have led high-profile investigations into tax evasion and have made significant contributions to simplifying complex tax systems. Some famous officers in India, such as Daya Shankar, who is known for his crackdown on gold smuggling and his efforts against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, along with K.V Chowdhury, who is known for his anti-corruption initiatives, have proved to be an inspiration for young aspirants who want to join the Indian Revenue Service and bring a positive change in society.
Who is an IRS Officer?
An IRS officer is a Group A civil servant responsible for managing, collecting and administering direct Income Tax and indirect customs taxes. The IRS officers are recruited via the UPSC Civil Services Exam, and they work under the Ministry of Finance to formulate tax policies, investigate tax evasion and protect economic borders. The IRS officers in India are responsible for collecting income tax, corporate tax, and maintaining customs duties. They also conduct raids and audits to detect tax evasion and black money.
List of Top 10 Famous IRS Officers in India
There are many famous IRS officers in India who are known for their contributions to tax administration, policymaking and anti-smuggling initiatives. Some of the famous IRS officers in India, such as Daya Shankar, K.V Chowdhary and T.S Krishnamurthy, have proved to be an inspiration who have managed the nation's direct and indirect tax revenues. Let’s take a look at the list of the top 10 famous IRS officers in India.
1. K. V. Chowdary
K. V. Chowdary is a retired IRS officer in India of the 1978 batch who eventually joined the Central Board of Direct Taxes, India’s top tax policy body. IRS officer Kosaraju Veerayya (K. V.) Chowdary served as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of India from 2015 to 2019. He is known for his high-profile investigations, such as coal mine allocations and 2G spectrum cases. He took measures for anti‑corruption work across government departments and public sector banks, reinforcing integrity in public administration. His career included senior tax administration with accountability roles, representing Indian tax policy interests and helping shape implementation standards at the national level.
2. PC Mody
Former CBDT Chairman PC Mody is a famous IRS officer who served as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes. PC Mody became the first IRS officer to be appointed as the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha. During his tenure, he regulated policy formulation, improved taxpayer service frameworks and strengthened compliance measures. Even after retirement, his leadership and experience in income tax investigation and policy continue to influence how the government approaches revenue administration and his contributions are still put to practice.
3. Daya Shankar
Daya Shankar IRS is known as the ‘Superman of Customs’ and is famous for dismantling gold smuggling networks in the 1980s when illegal trade was at its peak. He arrested Anees Ibrahim, the brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, in a smuggling case. In fact, his terror was so extreme among smugglers that they kept notice boards of his off days to schedule their operations safely at international airports in Dubai and Singapore, reportedly. IRS officer Daya Shankar was from Patna, Bihar, known for his crackdown on gold smuggling networks in Daman, Goa and Mumbai.
4. T. Samaya Murali
T. Samaya Murali is an IRS officer and is known for his work, such as successful anti-evasion and anti-smuggling operations involving various illicit goods worth hundreds of crores. IRS officer T.Samaya Murali has served in the Special Intelligence & Investigation Branch (SIIB) at major ports like Kandla, Mundra, and Chennai and has expertise in preventive detention and intelligence collection. Internationally, Murali received the WCO Certificate of Merit in 2021 for his service to the international customs community.
5. Amitabh Kumar
Amitabh Kumar is a senior IRS officer in India who is recognised for innovative tax administration reforms. Shri Amitabh Kumar, an IRS officer of the 1992 batch, launched the Tax Return Preparer Scheme to train unemployed graduates to help taxpayers file returns accurately. This initiative not only improved compliance and eased taxpayer burden but also provided employment to thousands. His contributions solved the issues of tax collection from scratch, and he continues to inspire youth even today.
6. Rahul Navin
Rahul Navin IRS is an IRS officer who has been the Director of the Enforcement Directorate since August 2024. During his tenure in the department's international wing, he was instrumental in raising tax demands on high-profile offshore transactions, including the Vodafone tax case. Under the Rahul Navin IRS leadership, the ED has spearheaded several sensitive investigations, including the arrests of high-profile political figures such as Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren and K. Kavitha.
7. Lieutenant Colonel Pradeep Shoury Arya
Lieutenant Colonel Pradeep Shoury Arya is an IRS officer who also serves in the Territorial Army. He was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry for his brave contribution to counter-narco terrorism operations. His dual role highlights the service values of some IRS officers who contribute not only to revenue enforcement but also to national security, particularly in operations targeting narcotics‑linked terror threats. He is known for his work on terror funding and money laundering in Kashmir.
8. Vrunda Desai
Vrunda Desai is a Lady IRS officer who has served in diverse leadership roles, including Textile Commissioner under the Ministry of Textiles. Vrunda Desai's IRS work includes policy implementation, coordination with states and industries and assistance to micro and small enterprises. IRS officer promotion highlights how IRS officers can apply their administrative skills across sectors to shape national-level policies and governance. She has handled high-value Corporate Ranges in Bareilly, Varanasi and Kanpur, overseeing tax assessments for major business entities.
9. T.S Krishnamurthy
Taruvai Subayya Krishnamurthy is an IRS officer of the Income Tax cadre. T. S. Krishnamurthy is most famous for being the first IRS officer to serve as the 13th Chief Election Commissioner of India and the Secretary to the Government of India. His treaties remain the base for preventing tax evasion and protecting Indian companies from being taxed twice on global income. T.S Krishnamurthy, IRS, played a key role in drafting policies that increased corporate transparency and simplified the compliance burden for businesses in the late 90s.
10. Manasa Gangotri Kata
Manasa Gangotri Kata is a notable IRS officer who is currently appointed as the Director of the Department of Finance. Ms Manasa Gangotri Kata, IRS (C&IT:2007), took initiatives for significant GST-related legal proceedings, including notable rulings on the taxability of alumni association fees. She also issued orders for major entities like Chennai Metro Rail Limited regarding the exemption of specific levies for access rights.
Conclusion
The IRS officer is responsible for managing and enforcing tax laws, ensuring revenue collection and curbing financial scams. India has witnessed many IRS officers over the years who have been an inspiration for the youth, compelling them to join the revenue services. Notable IRS officers such as Daya Shankar, who is known for his anti-corruption measures against gold smuggling, along with his efforts against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Other officers, such as Rahul Navin, who handled the arrests of high-profile political figures such as Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren and K. Kavitha, have continued to serve as examples of courage and excellence.