WHILE addressing a large gathering Tax officials, both serving and retired, at the concluding ceremony of 150 years of Income Tax in India here today at Vigyan Bhawan, the President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil, said that an environment of voluntary tax compliance has to be fostered and nurtured in the country. This could best be done perhaps, by inculcating voluntary tax compliance as a core duty.

The President also emphasised the need for putting in place measures, through laws and procedures, to ensure that recalcitrant tax evaders are brought to book. The war against black money has to be addressed both domestically and through cross-border measures, said she adding that the thrust for better global co-operation has to be continued, through appropriate agreements on tax information exchange, and on mutual co-operation between countries to track down evaders taking shelter in other jurisdictions.