 The total tax revenues of the Central Government increased from in 1997–98 to in 2007–08.In 2018–19, the Direct tax collections reported by CBDT were approximately INR 11.17 lakh crore 

Taxation has been one of the key functions of the sovereign state since ancient times.The earliest archaeological evidence of income tax in India is found at Ashoka's pillar inscription at Lumbini.