*Noose to be tightened around non-filers: Sangeeta
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 10: Perturbed over colossal gap between number of Income Tax assessees and Permanent Account Number (PAN) card holders in this State, the new Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Jammu and Kashmir, Sangeeta Gupta has decided to lay much-needed focus on widening of tax base by initiating several measures. Moreover, she is going to tighten noose around those assesses, who have stopped filing the Income Tax returns so that they once again start adhering to the mandatory provisions of the Income Tax Act and contribute in nation building by paying taxes strictly as per their exact income.
In her maiden interview on taking over as Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, J&K, Sangeeta Gupta, Indian Revenue Service officer of 1984 batch, told EXCELSIOR that she was shocked to know that in this State there are 12.70 lakh PAN card holders but the number of Income Tax assessees is 84,420 only.
“This is really a matter of serious concern for me as by no stretch of imagination such a huge gap can be justified”, she said, adding “no-doubt several people obtain PAN card just because this is the most authentic identification document but the number of such persons can never be around 12 lakh. From my analysis majority of these PAN card holders are avoiding filing of Income Tax returns in order to keep themselves away from the scanner of the department”.
Stating that these disturbing figures have compelled her to fix widening of tax base as main priority, Sangeeta Gupta, who has 30 years of unblemished services in different capacities to her credit, said, “I have fixed the target of bringing one lakh new assessees in tax brackets during the current financial year although the same would be a daunting task as three months of 2015-16 financial year have already lapsed.
Her decision is in tune with the country-wide targets fixed by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for the Income Tax Department. Modi has laid emphasis on adding at least 25 lakh new tax assessees per month.
“I have planned a number of activities for widening of tax base and within next some days the department will start conducting awareness camps in the length and breadth of the State to make the people aware about their legal obligation of filing Income Tax returns”, the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax said, adding “in our endeavour towards widening of tax base we will involve all the bodies representing cross section of society so that all the myths behind non-filing of returns are removed”.
In response to a question, Sangeeta Gupta said that Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has fixed Rs 866.59 crore tax collection target for Jammu and Kashmir and widening of tax base would play key role in achieving this target.
Though Sangeeta Gupta is known in the Income Tax Department for being expert on widening of tax base, she would not keep deepening of tax base out of her focus. “For next three months our focus would be on bringing more people in tax brackets and thereafter we will start initiating assertive steps so that those indulging in tax evasion don’t go scot free”, she made it clear. In this regard, the department would tighten noose around the non-filers (those assessees, who were earlier filing the returns but later stopped the same). Directions have already been issued by new Principal Commissioner of Income Tax to the concerned officers of the department in this regard.
About assessees friendly measures, she said, “the positive development on this front can be gauged from the fact that during first quarter of last financial year (April-June 2014-15 FY) refund to the tune of Rs 40 crore was given to the assessees but during current financial year refunds worth Rs 87 crore were given between April 1 to June 30”, adding “by increasing the refunds more than double in comparison to the figures of last year we have redressed the grievances of assessees up to large extent”.
She disclosed that Income Tax Department would open new offices in Katra and Samba within next few months for the convenience of the assessees.
Concerned over shortage of manpower, the new Principal Commissioner of Income Tax said that she would shortly write to the Central Board of Direct Taxes for providing full manpower so that department achieves the targets vis-a-vis tax collection as well as widening of tax base.
As against three posts of Joint Commissioners, the Income Tax Department currently has only one Joint Commissioner. Similarly, two posts of Deputy Commissioners are lying vacant besides those of other ranks. Against the total sanctioned strength of 152, the Income Tax Department has only 77 officers and officials in Jammu and Kashmir, which is hampering its working particularly in Kashmir valley.
It is pertinent to mention here that new Principal Commissioner of Income Tax has also held interactions with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Income Tax Bar so as to acquaint herself about their problems and take corrective measures.
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