Ombudsman for uploading instructions on website

Mumbai, June 23: The Income-Tax Ombudsman, Mr Hardayal Singh, has said he will try to get the I-T department's internal instructions uploaded on the website on a priority basis.

He made this announcement while responding to observations made by Mr Kishor Karia and Ms Arati Vissanji, Chairman and Co-Chairman respectively of the Indian Merchants Chamber's (IMC) Direct Taxation Committee, at an interactive meeting with IMC members yesterday.

Felicitating the Ombudsman, IMC President Niraj Bajaj said that the taxpaying public held high expectations from the I-T Ombudsman.

''I have no doubt that the Ombudsman would not only build the common man's trust in the fairness of the income-tax department, but would also remove his fear of arbitrariness on the part of the tax authorities,'' he said.

Mr Hardayal Singh urged the IMC members and other businessmen to extend cooperation to make the institution of Ombudsman fruitful.

''Functioning independently of the I-T department, I will be reporting directly to the revenue secretary and not to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). For protecting the rights of taxpayers and for punishing erring I-T officials, I will be submitting recommendations to CBDT and also to the revenue secretary every month. I am fully confident that both the CBDT and the revenue department will respond positively to my recommendations,'' he said.

He clarified that the Ombudsman would not like to assume an adversarial stance against the I-T department. His main task was to redress the genuine grievances of taxpayers by ensuring that the I-T officials did not overstep their legitimate duty.

''I would hear both the taxpayers and I-T authorities and try to amicably settle their disputes. If they did not agree to an amicable settlement, then I will give my award, which will be binding on both of them,'' he said.

He further clarified that the institution of Ombudsman was created not for substituting the I-T Appellate Tribunal and the two had separate and distinct roles to play. The Ombudsman had the authority to deal with the complaints of taxpayers on various issues, such as delays in the issue of refunds, giving effect to appeals, disposal of rectification, application for allotment of permanent account number (PAN) etc, as specified in para 9 of the I-T Ombudsman guidelines, 2006.

He nodded in agreement with an observation from a member of the audience that ''the Ombudsman would be like a stamp duty-free mini settlement commission for taxpayers.'' ''Please submit four copies of your detailed complaint, with documentary evidence to me, so that I can act expeditiously,'' Mr Hardayal Singh said and urged all complainants to approach him only after exhausting all avenues of redressal from the IT department.

UNI