PM launches platform for “Transparent Taxation – Honouring the Honest”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the ‘Transparent Taxation, Honouring the Honest’ platform to further its initiative to reform direct taxes in India. The platform is aimed at bringing more transparency in official communication through the newly-introduced Document Identification Number (DIN).
PM Modi said that the ongoing structural reforms have reached new heights today and the “Transparent Taxation- Honouring the Honest” platform will have faceless assessments, faceless appeal and taxpayer charter.”“Today is the landmark day in the history of the taxation administration. The launch will bring certainity of information”, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
PM while speaking about the tax reforms said, “Taxes have also been reduced in the country along with the complexities of procedures. Tax is now zero on income of up to 5 lakh rupees. The tax has also been reduced in the remaining slabs. We are one of the lowest tax consuming countries in the world in terms of corporate tax”.
“With faceless assessment, the taxpayer is assured of fair, courteous and rational behavior. That is, the income tax department now has to take care of the taxpayer’s dignity sensitively. Now you have to trust the taxpayer, the department cannot doubt anyone without any basis”.PM added.
“Of all the tax returns filed in 2012-13, scrutiny of 0.94 percent cases was done. In the year 2018-19, this figure came down to 0.26 percent. That is, the scrutiny of the case has reduced by almost 4 times. This proves how extensive the change is. In the last 6 years, India has seen a new model of governance developing in tax administration” PM informed.
Modi also urged taxpayes to come forward and file tax returns. “Those who are able to pay tax, but they are not in the tax net yet, they should come forward with self-motivation, this is my request and hope. Let us world towards the reolution of new India, self-reliant India”.
The platform is aimed at bringing more transparency in official communication through the newly-introduced Document Identification Number (DIN).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “tax returns scrutiny had fallen to 0.26 percent of all returns in 2018-19. In 2012-13, 0.94 percent of all tax returns were scrutinised. In 2018-19, this figure came down to 0.26 percent. This means, case scrutiny has reduced about four times”.
“The government is now focussing on making tax-paying seamless, painless, faceless. Faceless as it shouldn’t matter who is paying tax and who is tax officer”
PM Modi said that over the past six years, the government has remained focused on “banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured and funding the unfunded”. “In a way, today’s launch marks a new beginning in this direction,” the Prime Minister said.