BANGALORE,
MAY 30, 2010: WHILE inaugurating
the Centralised Processing Centre of the CBDT here yesterday, the Finance
Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, termed it as a major step in the direction
of administrative reforms of the income tax department. He said that
two more similar Centres would be set up in Pune and Manesar this fiscal.
On
this occasion, the FM stated
that the technological
innovation is key to success in addressing issues relating to voluminous
data and repetitive procedures. However, technological limitations invite
criticism from those who are at the receiving end. There has been some criticism
of computerization in the Department on issues relating to credit of TDS
and refunds to the taxpayers. Even countries
like USA started computerization of processes in the year 1960s,
but they could start processing of the returns for the first time in the
year 2004 on a new computer system. The Income Tax Department started computerization
in the year 1990s and full scale processing was started in the year 2002-03
after pilot testing was done in the year 1999-2000. The point
is that the computerization projects involving complex legislative framework
and evolving international tax jurisprudence are associated with risks and
rewards. Taxpayers should accept these challenges and should not be disappointed
with failures.
Mr Mukherjee further said that the CBDT is in
cooperation with Brazil and South Africa under India-Brazil-South Africa
(IBSA) Forum to
adopt best global practices.One of the areas of cooperation is relating to risk
profiling and computerization. He said that the CBDT would continue to take initiatives like
this to adopt best global practices to deliver services to the taxpayers
and at the same time performing the role of a revenue collecting organization
of the Government.
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