Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service ( IP&TAFS) is a Group "A" Central Civil Services of the Union of India. The Service was started in the year 1972 for prudent and professional management of the finances of the Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications which were the sole provider of the communications needs of the country at that time. Gradually, over time the service has crystallized into a professional cadre of over 376 officers. This service contributes to the largest share of Non-Tax Revenue collection/assessment for Government of India.

After the foundation of Service in 1972, the first batch was recruited in 1974. Mr S.D. Saxena and Ms Ruchira Mukherjee (Ex Adviser Finance), belong to the first batch of 1974. Initial batches of the service were very small in number, however, with growth in Telecom in India need was felt for more number of officers, hence subsequent batches of the service (e.g. 1994, 1995 etc.) were large batches.

After recruitment through Civil Services Examination, the officers undergo a foundation course with the officers of other services (IAS, IFS & Central Services Group "A") lasting about 4 months at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie. This is followed by a 6 months of rigorous professional training in Financial Management at the National Institute of Financial Management,[1] Faridabad which is a specialized training institute under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Thereafter, for further training in Telecom technologies and Postal procedures the officers are deputed for 10 months at National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) at Ghitorni (New Delhi) In between this classroom training schedules, the officers are also deputed for on job field training in both telecom side and postal side. After successful completion of training the officers are posted to work in the Department of Post or Department of Telecommunications as Assistant Chief Accounts Officers or Assistant Controller of Communication Accounts respectively in the Junior Time Scale Grade. IP&TAFS has also a Group-B Cadre and Asst Accounts Officers, Accounts Officers and Sr. Accounts Officers are placed under this cadre with All India Service liabilities. These Officers are appointed on promotion selected through a Departmental Examination.

1. Assessment and Collection of License fee and Spectrum usage charges paid by Telecom Licencers.
2. Spectrum Auction of 2G, 3G and 4G
3. Policy making in Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts.
4. Financial Management of Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications.
5. Internal Audit of Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts.
6. Designated Monitoring Authority of Bharat Net Project (backbone of Digital India)
7. Accounting of Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications.
8. Pension Management of DoT, DoP, BSNL and MTNL.
9. Human Resource Development and Capacity Building of IP&TAFS, Gr.’A"

As in the other Central Services, the officers are liable to be transferred and posted in anywhere in India. The officers of IP&TAFS are working in Department of Telecom, Department of Posts, and various other ministries and statutory bodies of Govt of India on deputation.