IT dept to redress taxpayers' grievances

The Central Board of Direct taxes (CBDT) has issued a directive to the income tax (I-T) department to expeditiously resolve taxpayers' grievances with less than a week to go for a high-level review by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A senior official confirmed that CBDT chairperson Rani Singh Nair has written to all regional heads of the tax department to ensure disposal of grievances by early next week. There are more than 3,700 grievances relating to refund and other tax issues pending with the department out of which 1,073 are overdue as these have not been resolved within the stipulated 60 days for resolution from the date of receipt.

Officials said that Nair has directed supervisory principal chief commissioners of income tax to expeditiously dispose of these grievances as the PM is expected to review the issue during the PRAGATI meeting he will chair on August 24.

Official data shows that while there are four grievances pending before the department for more than a year, 137 for over six months, 390 for periods between three and six months and 542 for two to three months.

The CBDT chairperson has asked the department to ensure zero pendency.

In association with Mail Today Bureau