JAMMU: Income Tax Department and Central GST Department organised an ‘Outreach Programme & Interactive Session’ at ICAI Bhawan, Jammu on Tuesday to find out about expectations of people from forthcoming Union Budget besides making them aware about the various technological and other initiatives taken by Department to increase transparency and ease of compliance and to provide better services to taxpayers.The session was followed by ‘Walk in Taxpayers facilitation Camp’ organised by Income Tax Department at Aayakar Sewa Kendra, Aayakar Bhawan, Jammu to address the queries/grievances related to Income Tax matters. This Walk in Camp will also continue on December 1, 2021 at ASK Centre, Jammu.Similar events will be held in all districts of Jammu region, amid strict COVID SoPs, during next fortnight.The outreach programme & Interactive Session was attended by representatives of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Chamber of Commerce & Industries, Chamber of Traders Federation, Bari Brahmana Industries Association, J&K Branch of NIRC of ICAI, Tax Bar Association and Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax, (ReFAC) (AU) Jammu Mona Singh, Pr Commissioner of CGST Mahesh Rustogi, Baljeet Kaur Addl Commissioner of Income Tax, Range-Jammu, Rakesh Kumar Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax, (ReFAC) (AU), Range-1 & 2, Jammu, Amit Sharma JCIT, CGST and other senior officers.Welcoming all participants, Rakesh Kumar Addl CIT, ReFAC Jammu informed that the program is beginning of an open communication between Departments and stakeholders.Mona Singh informed about the various steps taken by the Department to ease compliance like introduction of Faceless Assessment Scheme, Faceless Appeals, pre-filling of Income Tax returns , relaxation in the norms for prosecution, Tax Incentives for Start-Ups, along with steps taken to promote digital transactions etc.In the keynote address, Baljeet Kaur, Addl. CIT, Range Jammu emphasized that the two ways of bridging the trust deficit is through enhanced use of technology in Tax Administration and through tax authorities reaching out to public and interacting with stakeholders. She appealed to the trade & industry leaders and tax consultants to spread the message to their fraternity and the public at large about the importance of paying the right taxes at right time.Mahesh Kumar Rustogi Principal Commissioner CGST Jammu emphasized that to become Atmanirbhar, efforts have to be there to Make in India as much as possible and to move towards digital systems. He also elaborated on composition levy scheme, e-invoice under GST, benefits for MSMEs under GST, amnesty scheme, relaxation in compliances, Budgetary Support Scheme and COVID measures.An interaction with college students and trade members was also separately held at CGST Commissionerate, OB-32, Railhead Complex, Jammu wherein issues relating to Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make-in-India, Swachhta Mission etc were discussed.On the occasion, Rahul Sahai, Chairman, PhD Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Jammu raised issue of technical glitches being faced on portal of e-filing, issues in registration of start-ups, IT exemptions, delay in realizing tax refunds and losses being suffered by industry sector in view of peculiar problems.Arun Gupta, President, Chamber Commerce & Industries raised issue of delay in completing the cases in Vivad-se-Vishwas scheme, invoking penal provisions for delay in compliance which is mostly due to malfunctioning of e-filing portal and requested for extending dates for filing of IT Returns.Neeraj Anand, President, Chamber of Traders Federation highlighted the problems being faced by the small traders and MSMEs due to transition of J&K as UT from State. CA Vinay Jamwal, Chairman J&K branch of ICAI, Jammu requested officers to address the issue of old refund matters and appeal effect cases which are pending with the department.Neeraj Bhasin, General Secretary, Tax Bar association raised some very pertinent issues regarding spreading awareness especially regarding returns to be filed by senior citizens and need to merge 26AS and AIS and to provide more time for reconciliation of data in AIS.The interactive programme was conducted by Rakesh Kumar, Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax, (ReFAC) (AU), Range-1 & 2, Jammu while Amit Sharma, Joint Commissioner, CGST Jammu delivered vote of thanks on behalf of CBIC and Rahul Padha, Deputy Commissioner, Income Tax, Jammu presented vote of thanks on behalf of CBDT.
