PM asks taxmen to help evolve an efficient tax system

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked tax administrators to move towards digitisation and make the tax administration better and efficient. He also asked the tax officials to remove fear of harassment from the minds of the assesses.

Addressing an interactive session at the Rajasva Gyan Sangam, the first joint conference of the two revenue boards – the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) – the prime minister invited suggestions from tax officials on diverse subjects such as digitisation, voluntary tax compliance, facilitation for taxpayers, increasing the tax base, upgradation of digital and physical infrastructure for tax administrators, etc.

He encouraged the officials for a free and frank exchange of ideas during the Rajasva Gyan Sangam. He stressed that while there should be respect for the rule of law among all citizens, and even fear of the long arm of the law for those who evade taxes, people should not fear tax administrators. 

He said India is today at a unique stage in its history, and the high aspirations of its people need to be nurtured by the government, so that they translate into the nation's development. 

He stressed the need for tax administrators to engender trust in the system. Citing the example of the ''Give it up'' initiative for voluntarily giving up gas subsidy, he said the tax base too could be increased significantly, provided the tax administrators can demonstrate the leadership to bring about a change.

The prime minister outlined a five-point charter for tax administrators – RAPID: R for Revenue, A for Accountability, P for Probity, I for Information and D for Digitization. He urged the officers to turn the Gyan Sangam into a Karma Sangam, so that the ideas generated from this conference lead to concrete action on the ground.

Minister for finance Arun Jaitley, minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha, principal secretary to the prime minister Nripendra Misra, revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia and the chairmen of CBDT and CBEC were present on the occasion.