Finance dept ‘surprises’ tax payers

0
257
Renown Auditor Anand.H.G. was elated that his client received certificate of appreciation. eNarada Picture.

eNarada, Bengaluru, January 27, 2017

Many Bengalureans were in for a pleasant surprise when they received a mail from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) recently. Though many were sceptical of the mail (as many times, the mails are a reminder of taxes not being paid in proper), this time, the mail thanked the tax payer for paying on time.

Renown Auditor Anand.H.G. was elated that his client received certificate of appreciation. eNarada Picture.
Renown Auditor Anand.H.G. was elated that his client received certificate of appreciation. eNarada Picture.

According to city’s well known chartered accountant Mr Anand H.G. , this is the first time the Central government was sending out the appreciation mail for paying taxes and this was a good gesture to encourage these tribes. Anand said that the mail received from the CBDT contained an attachment – a certificate of appreciation – that can be downloaded, printed and framed for posterity. Thanks to these appreciation letters, the routine affair of tax return filing has become special. The CBDT terms this move as the first effort by the Union government to directly communicate to the tax payer and appreciating his contribution. Given the negative image income tax department has been generating through their tax demand notices every year; a positive communication has been a welcome change

According to CBDT officials, the Union Government acknowledges the contribution of individual tax payers in paying taxes within the prescribed time and prompt filing of Income Tax Returns. While it is widely acknowledged that the nation meets its obligations towards spending in various social sector and welfare schemes and infrastructure development out of revenues mobilised through tax payments by millions of honest tax payers, this appreciation step marks the first effort by the Government to directly communicate to the tax payer its appreciation for that contribution. CBDT is sending out such certificates of appreciation to individual tax payers by e-mail in various categories on the basis of the level of taxes paid by them for the current assessment year 2016-17 where taxes have been paid in full and tax payers have no outstanding tax liabilities and where the return is e-filed within the prescribed due date. The tax payers may display these certificates in their homes / offices.

The categories for individual taxpayers and the number of certificates being issued in the first round are:
i. Platinum : Tax contributed Rs. 1 Crore and above
ii. Gold : Tax contributed Rs. 50Lakh to Rs. 1 Crore
iii. Silver : Tax contributed Rs. 10Lakh to Rs.50 Lakh
iv. Bronze : Tax contributed Rs. 1Lakh to Rs.10 Lakh

“The CBDT urges taxpayers to e-file their returns in time and verify their return by submitting the Electronic Verification Code online or sending their ITR-V within the 120 day period so that they can be also acknowledged for their contribution. The Department is committed to continuous improvement of taxpayer services and seeks the cooperation of all taxpayers in contributing their fair share of taxes voluntarily,” said Meenakshi J Goswami, Commissioner of Income Tax and an official spokesperson of CBDT

 

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

*

code