The term "Ministry" or "Board of Revenue" is an English gloss of the department's purview.
In Chinese, the various names of the department never referred to the government's monetary income.
Instead, prior to the Sui dynasty, it was known as the Dùzhī from its role in overseeing government expenses.
Under the Sui, it was known as the "Ministry of People" (Mínbù) from its role overseeing the census and its associated taxation.
The ministry was usually divided into specialized bureaus: Each bureau was headed by a director (郎中).