NEW DELHI: Your local tax office head would now set aside a day just to meet you and address your woes related to the department. Apex direct and indirect taxes bodies have identified a number of measures to deepen engagement with taxpayers for better services as part of the Narendra Modi government's good governance initiative rolled out on Thursday.
It has been decided to observe Wednesday as dedicated day for interaction with taxpayers... Head of the local tax office would interact with taxpayers," a finance ministry official aware of the development told ET.
Revenue secretary Shaktikanta Das held meetings with senior officials of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Excise and Customs to review measures being undertaken as of part better governance by both.
"A number of measures have been taken and identified that would be implemented over time," the official said.
Taxpayers will be able to approach the chief commissioner or commissioner-level officers for any delay in issuance of permanent account number (PAN) or any other grievance on what would be an open day allowing walk-ins
Dedicated camps would be set up off and on to take the tax department close to people as part of taxpayer-friendly initiatives.
Both the CBDT and CBEC will also post online any judicial decisions that have been accepted as the settled legal positions for reference by both taxpayers and field officials in order to prevent all unnecessary litigation.
Taking forward the Modi government's commitment to a non-adversarial tax regime, the boards have already told field officials to ensure that appointments are kept with taxpayers and they are not made to wait unnecessarily.
Income tax officials have been directed not to attempt making fishing queries during scrutiny and focus only on the query raised. The board has also directed officials to ensure that "highpitched assessments without proper basis are not made" and "lengthy questionnaires or summons without due application of mind are avoided".
Customs has granted a significant relaxation to large importers which will be able to access the green channel under the accredited client programme and not barred if they had been served a show cause notice. A reentry programme has been designed and circulated to field formations for such importers
Corporate affairs ministry seeks special judges in each HC to clear Companies Act backlog
NEW DELHI: With more than 47,000 cases related to non-compliance of Companies Act pending in courts, the corporate affairs ministry is set to request registrar general in each high court to designate special judges for early disposal of such cases.
Under the Companies Act 2013, special courts were to be set up in every state to deal with all cases related to companies. The recent amendments to the Act have, however, brought down the need for such courts as it will be invoked only in cases where the accused is charged with offences punishable by imprisonment of two years or more
The ministry believes that there is no immediate need to set up special courts following the softening of provisions in the law, said a senior official, who did not wish to be identified.
According to the official, a total of 47,693 cases were pending on March 31 in courts. "All of these were to be taken up by special courts before amendment. But now only 5,000 of them, which are very serious, will go to these courts. So, designated judges in high courts can take up these matters along with other company cases, ensuring early redressal," the official added. Section 435 of the Companies Act 2013 provides for speedy trial of offences by empowering the central government to establish as many special courts as may be necessary.
"Creation of courts involves creation of posts, infrastructure and transfer of funds, which will be a long-term process, delaying the commencement of provisions relating to special courts. In view of this, we may request for designating judges in high courts to act as special court," said the official.
For instance, if a special court is to be set up in Delhi, seven posts of supporting staff along with one post in Delhi Higher udicial Services will be required. Corporate affairs minister Arun Jaitley recently said amendments to the Companies Act would do away with the draconian POTA-type provisions which had made it impossible for anybody accused of violating provisions of Companies Act to get bail.
Practising Company Secretary
Chennai
Mobile 93810 11200
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