Senior IRS officer R K Tewari is tipped to be the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex authority of the Income Tax department.

Sources said the final approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has been received and the Finance Ministry will soon issue orders in this regard.

Mr Tewari, a 1976-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, is at present posted as the Member (Legislation and Computerisation) in the CBDT and will take over the top post on March 1 as incumbent Chairperson Sudha Sharma is scheduled to retire on February 28.

Mr Tewari has earlier served in various positions in the I-T department including as a Chief Commissioner in the national capital.

CBDT is a seven-member body including the Chairman and it is the apex authority for policy planning and administrative control over the I-T department and collection of direct taxes in the country.