Celebrating 164 Years of Income Tax Day: A Journey towards Transparency and Efficiency
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and all its field offices across India observed the 164th anniversary of Income Tax Day today. The main function took place at the Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, with the presence of prominent dignitaries, including Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State (Finance) Shri Pankaj Choudhury. The event also witnessed the participation of Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary, Revenue, and Shri Nitin Gupta, Chairman, CBDT, along with other officers and officials of the Department.
During her keynote address, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman lauded the remarkable performance of the CBDT and its field formations in all aspects of their work. She commended the Department’s dedication to implementing the 3 ‘R’s – Return processing, Refund issue, and Redressal of grievances, which she had emphasized earlier. The Finance Minister also acknowledged the crucial role played by taxpayers, tax practitioners, professionals, and stakeholders in driving India’s economic growth and prosperity. She highlighted that tax collection has witnessed an increase in recent years without any rise in tax rates, attributed to the Department’s enhanced efficiency.
Smt. Sitharaman emphasized the systemic changes in the Direct tax administration, such as prefilling of forms, instant PAN, and faceless assessment, which have bolstered taxpayer trust and eased compliance, leading to revenue growth. She further noted the various reforms introduced by the Union Government in the Finance Act 2023 to provide relief to the salaried class, start-ups, MSMEs, and cooperative societies. The Finance Minister called for a focus on widening the tax base while ensuring a transparent, objective, and taxpayer-friendly tax administration.
As part of the celebrations, the event featured several taxpayers from diverse economic and industrial backgrounds. These individuals were invited to share their experiences dealing with various service touchpoints with the Income Tax Department, reflecting on the quality of taxpayer services and the ease of compliance with tax procedures. Among the distinguished taxpayers and stakeholders sharing their experiences were Shri Mohit Sahney (MD & CEO, Finova Capitals), Shri Aniket Sunil Talati (President, ICAI), and Ms. Supriya Paul (CEO, Josh Talks).
Additionally, Shri Ravikant, IRS (Retd) 1962 batch, ex-Chairman, CBDT, shared his insights on the evolution of the Income Tax Department over the years, drawing from his vast experience serving in different capacities. He praised the quantitative growth in tax collection while also appreciating the qualitative improvement in training and technology within the Department.
Smt. G.G. Kamei, IRS, Ms. Neha D Desai, IRS, and Shri Manish Dhama, Inspector of Income Tax, who are serving officers/officials, also shared their valuable experiences of working in the Department.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Smt. Subashree Anant Krishnan, Member, CBDT, expressing gratitude to the Union Finance Minister for gracing the occasion and providing inspiring words of wisdom. She also extended her appreciation to all other dignitaries present at the event.
As India marks the 164th Income Tax Day, the celebration becomes an opportunity to reflect on the significant strides made in tax administration and the commitment to providing efficient, transparent, and taxpayer-friendly services. The path forward entails continued efforts to widen the tax base, enhance technology-driven solutions, and build trust between the taxpayers and the Income Tax Department. By working together, India can achieve its goals of economic prosperity and financial inclusion for all citizens.
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh -27th July 2023
