I-T department to introduce unique acknowledgement number for taxpayer grievances

In a bid to speed up grievances redressal of taxpayers over delayed I-T refunds, the IT department plans to introduce a new unique acknowledgement number with an assurance of the resolution of their complaint within two months time.

According to a PTI report, this number would be different from current unique numbers issued by the Income Tax department to taxpayers, like the PAN, TAN and Unique Transaction Number (UTN), according to the report.

All chief commissioners of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which frames policies and rules for the I-T Department across the country have been asked to ensure these new facilities for taxpayers with ''immediate effect''.

The  report cited sources as saying the directions were issued on 5 July after the Delhi High Court recently passed orders regarding fine-tuning procedures followed by the department on receipt and disposal of 'rectification applications' which were filed by taxpayers under Section 154 of the I-T Act.

According to a senior I-T officer, whether the taxpayer filed his rectification application by ordinary post, by hand or online, the receipt counter of the department would generate a special and unique acknowledgement number for the taxpayer by which he or she would be assured, would be solved, within the stipulated time. He added, the taxpayer could quote this number in any further communication with the department.

The CBDT has also instructed that rectification applications were ''decided as far as possible within a period of two months from the end of the month in which application is received.''

Further, the I-T Department has also been asked by the CBDT to inform the taxpayer as soon as his grievance was addressed.

In case of e-filing of tax returns that reached the Central Processing Centre of the department in Bangalore, the CPC would follow the same procedures and in case the CPC was not able to do so, it would immediately inform the assessing officer of the taxpayer to take remedial action, according to the taxpayer.

In a bid to plug the loopholes, the department has also been directed by the CBDT that all such receipts of rectification applications from taxpayers would need to be mandatorily updated in the online rectification register, which could inspected by supervisory officers.