Inspired by the ideology to have a common platform for all those who practice taxation laws, irrespective of their individual affiliations and to enable them to share the benefits of their learning and sharing of knowledge, eminent professionals from the fields of Direct and Indirect Taxes conceived the idea of establishing an All-India body for the tax practitioners. It was at the opening ceremony of the National Conference held on November 11, 1976 organised by The Chamber of Income Tax Consultants, Mumbai under Presidentship of Shri B. C. Joshi, that the doyens of the Professionals christened the Association in the presence of former Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Justice J. C. Shah, distinguished Jurist Padma Vibhushan Dr. N. A. Palkhivala Senior Advocate and Shri Ram Rao Adik, Senior Advocate, Advocate General of Maharashtra. Shri N. C. Mehta, Chartered Accountant, Mumbai, was elected as Founder President of the All-India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP) and Shri P. C. Joshi Advocate was elected as Secretary General. The AIFTP has completed 44 glorious years of its existence.

The main object of AIFTP is to spread education in the matters relating to tax laws, other laws and Accountancy.

The AIFTP has its registered Head Office at 215, Rewa Chambers, 31, New Marine Lines, Mumbai- 400 020. The total strength of National Executive Committee Members is 75 headed by the National President, Deputy President, five Vice-Presidents, Secretary General, Treasurer, five Joint Secretaries. The National President (2023) is Mr. Pankaj Ghiya, Advocate from Jaipur and Deputy President Mr. Narayan P. Jain, Advocate from Kolkata.

The AIFTP is divided into five zones namely, Central Zone, Eastern Zone, Northern Zone, Southern Zone and Western Zone. Each Zone is headed by a Chairman, and Vice Chairman from each State to which Zone represents, One Secretary and two Joint Secretaries and Treasurer as Office Bearers. The term of the Zonal Office bearers and Managing Committee coincide with the terms of the National Executive Committee.

The membership of the AIFTP comprise of Senior Advocates, Advocates, Solicitors, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, Cost Accountants and Tax Practitioners who are practicing on Direct & Indirect Taxes, from all States and union territory of the Country. Members of the AIFTP enjoy a strong bond of fellowship leading to fraternal brotherhood amongst professionals. The AIFTP is the only voluntary professional organisation of our country which has 144 Professional Associations as its affiliated members and more than 10,500 individuals as life members from 29 States and 4 Union Territories.

For spreading the educational activities, the AIFTP has various Sub-Committees, such as, Journal Committee, Law & Representation Committee (Direct & Indirect Taxes), ITAT Bar Associations’ Co-ordination Committee, Membership Development, Times Committee, Publication Committee, etc.

The AIFTP publishes a monthly Journal covering the latest reported and unreported decisions of the Supreme Court, High Courts and Income Tax Appellate Tribunals, allied laws, and also the articles, opinions and Q&A. The unique feature of the AIFTP Journal is that every quarter, the gist of important case Laws which are published in 33 Tax Magazines, www.itatonline.org are published section wise. Yearly digest of case laws from 2003 onwards are also available on the website i.e., www.aiftponline.org which can be downloaded by the members and tax professionals. From 2019 onwards, AIFTP also publishes a monthly Journal on Indirect Tax & Corporate Laws Journal.

AIFTP publishes a monthly newsletter called AIFTP TIMES which is sent / emailed to all the members free of charge. Newsletter contains important Notifications, Circulars and other topical information and also information about various activities of the AIFTP.

AIFTP website i.e., www.aiftponline.org, have been revamped in 2023 and is an informative source for the members. The website is regularly updated by a team of dedicated professionals. The Journals and Times are uploaded every month on the website of AIFTP. Professionals can apply Membership, Journal Subscriptions, ID card through website.

AIFTP has been making representations for better tax law and tax administration. AIFTP and Associate members have filed more than 37 Public Interest Petitions (PILs) before various Courts for better administration of tax laws and to uphold the independency of judicial forums. AIFTP regularly sends Pre- and Post-Budget Memorandums. Many of the suggestions and the recommendations are accepted. It regularly publishes books in simple language and question-answer format at a low cost. It has published more than 47 publications till date.

AIFTP jointly with the Association Members, organise National Seminars, Conferences and Conventions in various parts of the Country to update its members on Direct and Indirect Taxation. A unique feature of the AIFTP is that its faculties, chairmen, trustees, office bearers and members of the National Executive and Zonal Committees pay a registration fee and bear their own travel and stay expenses. From April 2020 to September 2021 during the period of Covid-19 Pandemic, the AIFTP has conducted more than 200 Webinars on various subjects and all webinars were without any charges. AIFTP as an association with the help of their members have contributed an amount of Rs. 11 lakhs to the Prime Minister Cares Fund. In the year, 1999 the AIFTP had published a publication titled “NRI – A Legal companion” which was dedicated to the War Heroes of Kargil and the entire surplus of the said publication was handed over to the Defence fund. AIFTP members have sponsored various awards in memories of their respective parents in various categories i.e., Best Conference, Best Zone, Best Chairman, Best Upcoming Speakers, etc.

Since 2004, AIFTP conducts regular International Study tours, in the first study tour a seminar was held at Law Society of England and Wales on April 24, 2004, wherein a publication titled “India-A Global Business Destination” was released at England.

AIFTP has voluntarily adopted a Code of Ethics for its members in its Constitution.

On request of the AIFTP the Government of India has released Commemorative Postage Stamp in Memory of Padma Vibhushan Late Dr. N. A. Palkhivala, Senior Advocate on 16th January, 2004. The then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee released the Commemorative Postage Stamp at Mumbai.

Many members of the AIFTP have been elevated as Judges of the Supreme Court, High Courts, Tribunals and also appointed as Advocate General of various States.  

The AIFTP has always believed in professional brotherhood. For support of the members of the AIFTP it has set aside a corpus of Rs 1 crores for welfare of the members of the AIFTP. During the pandemic the AIFTP has supported financial aides many deserving members from across the country. The AIFTP is also proposing to have a group insurance scheme for the benefit of its members. 

The AIFTP is the symbol and spirit of National Integration of tax professionals, and with active support of the members it is one of the leading National Tax professional organisations.