Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: While extending full cooperation to the assessees in resolution of their legitimate grievances, the Income Tax Department will leave no stone unturned to ensure that tax evadors and defaulters don’t go scot-free and are dealt with sternly under the law.
This was announced by the Income Tax Commissioner, J&K Circle, Ashok Kumar Thatai in his first interaction with the media-persons at Ayakar Bhawan this evening after taking over new assignment.
“As far as our duties are concerned, we are bound to redress the legitimate and genuine grievances of the assessees and for this each and every officer of the Income Tax Department, J&K Circle would be very cooperative to the people”, said Mr Thatai, who was flanked by Joint Commissioner, R K Kakkar and Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (Headquarters), Rakesh Kumar.
“Clear instructions have been issued to entire manpower of the IT Department in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure utmost transparency in their working and make judicious use of the powers conferred on them under the Income Tax laws”, he further said, adding “for redressing the legitimate grievances of the assessees the doors of each and every officer of the Department including that of mine are open”.
He, however, made it clear that people-friendly attitude of the Department should not be misconstrued as the Department will leave no stone unturned to tighten noose around tax evadors and defaulters. “As per the Income Tax laws, we can take stringent actions against the tax defaulters and evadors and we would not hesitate to initiate the same if the defaulters and evadors don’t mend their ways and start cooperating with the department”, he added.
Mr Thatai, who has already served Jammu and Kashmir as Commissioner IT Appeals, disclosed that Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has set a target of Rs 656 crore tax collection from Jammu and Kashmir during the current financial year (2012-13), adding “we hope that people would pay tax as per their exact income. I appeal the people to pay next installment of Advance Tax due on September 15 strictly in consonance to their income”.
In response to a question, the IT Commissioner informed that during the previous financial year, income tax to the tune of Rs 617 crore was realized against the target of about Rs 580 crore.
“Collection of tax arrears, which are due to us legitimately, is another focused area during the current financial year”, he said, adding “in case the defaulters of tax arrears don’t come forward voluntarily the Department would be left with no other option but to take stern action and in such a situation only defaulters would be responsible for the action against them”.
Responding to another question, the IT Commissioner said that as on April 1, 2012, the tax arrears were to the tune of Rs 442.92 crore and the net collective demand of Rs 4.56 crore has been raised by the Department. “As far as rest of the amount is concerned, there are some disputes and the court cases and the same would be realized only after the final decision on appeals”, he added.
“As on April 1, 2011, the tax arrears were to the tune of Rs 622.58 crore and during the last financial year we recovered more than Rs 200 crores following decisions on disputes and appeals”, Mr Thathai said in response to another question.
About the IT cases against the separatists, he said, “we have taken whatever action was required on our part. Now, the cases are in the courts of law and we are also waiting for the decisions”.
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