PM Narendra Modi plans 'transparent' scheme for honest tax payers

New Delhi : Days before the Independence Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a meeting with all Principal Chief Commissioners and Chief Commissioners of Income Tax on August 13 to launch a new tax programme, 'Transparent Taxation - Honouring the Honest'.

The Prime Minister will be addressing the officers through a web telecast on August 13 at 11 am. The details of the discussions and scheme could be announced on the Independence Day when PM Modi will address the nation.

In last 3-4 weeks, PMO is learnt to have held several meetings with Income Tax officials on faceless assessment and scrutiny of income tax returns.

“The address to income tax officers is likely to focus on faceless assessment and transparency boosting measures for the taxpayers with special focus on reducing hassles for individual taxpayers,” Indian Express quoted a senior income tax official said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on Friday said faceless assessment and charter of rights for taxpayers were being worked upon as part of an overall simplified tax regime.

An economic slowdown coupled with the Covid pandemic has hurt businesses, while individuals had to suffer salary cuts and job losses. This has squeezed regular tax collections, prompting the department to look at alternative ways of bolstering revenues.