No escape from paying taxes now: Jaitley

NEW DELHI: Giving stern warning to tax evaders, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said they must make up their mind for paying due taxes as there is no escape from paying taxes now.

Speaking from different platforms here, he categorically said his Government does not believe in allowing not  paying taxes. Reacting on the hard decisions taken by the NDA Government, the Finance Minister said firm commitments were the need of the hour as a blinking Government cannot carry forward the reforms. Reforms cannot be done with half hearted efforts, he added.

At a function organised by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, he said ”the country is not getting the actual amount of taxes. Keeping the inherent capabilities of the nation, the tax collection is very low. Due to this, we have not been able to make more allocation for various sectors including defence, health, education, and rural development.”

He asked, ”How long the country will work on borrowings from others? People must make up their mind for paying taxes. ”In the earlier regime, people were taking advantages of the loopholes in available in the system. They were of the opinion that not paying taxes is their fundamental right. Now they must change their thinking in the new GST era.” (AGENCIES)