CBDT tells staff to find taxpayers in small cities

New Delhi, July 13: With almost 91 lakh new taxpayers brought in the tax net in the last financial year, the CBDT has asked the income-tax department to increasingly identify those who can pay tax but are not doing so, with a special focus on smaller cities.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Sushil Chandra has written a letter to his regional I-T heads across the country asking them to “maximise” efforts for widening of the tax base during the current financial year of 2017-18. The CBDT frames policy measures for the tax department.

“Huge opportunities for identification of potential taxpayers have been opened up by data mining and data analytics conducted (by the department) in the wake of demonetisation and operation clean money,” Mr Chandra said in the letter.

Calling widening of tax base as one of the “most important” policy objectives of the CBDT, he said various steps have been taken to increase the tax base which have shown appreciable results.

“It is quite encouraging to note that almost 91 lakh new taxpayers were added during financial year 2016-17. However, considering the increase in economic activities, both in the organised as well as unorganised sectors, there is a large scope for further widening of the direct tax base in the country,” he stated in the letter.

A senior official privy to the development said while no targets have been set by the CBDT in this context, it is estimated that about two crore fresh taxpayers could be easily added to the I-T net within this fiscal, if these measures are effectively implemented.

A SENIOR official said it is estimated that about two crore fresh taxpayers could be easily added to the income-tax net within this fiscal.