The government has been actively conducting surveys to identify tax evaders under Section 133A of the Income-tax Act, 1961. In response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha by Arun Kumar Sagar, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, shared details about the surveys conducted over the last three years.
Arun Kumar Sagar, a Member of Parliament, raised a set of questions in the Lok Sabha seeking information from the Ministry of Finance.
He inquired whether the government had conducted any surveys to identify tax evaders and improve taxpayer services over the past three years.
He also requested details of such surveys, a state-wise summary of taxes collected during the current year, and a comparison of the tax collection figures for the current financial year with those of the last three years.
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Govt highlights efforts to identify tax evaders and improve services
The Union minister gave details about the number of surveys conducted, as follows:
FY 2021-22: 1,046
FY 2022-23: 1,245
FY 2023-24: 737
Improving taxpayer services:
On measures to improve service delivery for taxpayers, the minister said that the government has taken number of steps to improve service delivery including digitalisation of services like filing of returns, making payments, refunds, faceless assessment and appeal etc. Aaykar Seva Kendra and GST Seva Kendra have been set up in various offices to provide any assistance required by tax payers.”
He further added: “Several steps have been taken to improve GST-related service delivery with the digitisation of all services provided to the taxpayers. On customs side, a number of key initiatives have been taken for improving taxpayers services including the extension of benefits of exports through courier mode, IGST refund for export through Dak Niryat Kendras, launch of a new ICEGATE website with AI-based interactive chatbot, introduction of exchange rate automation module and digitization of Customs Bonded Warehouse procedures.”
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Various outreach programmes are also conducted from time to time, he informed the Lok Sabha.
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