Reforms process in tax administration taken forward

New Delhi, Feb.26 (ANI): The UPA government on Friday carried forward the process of reforms in tax administration in the country through it General Budget 2010-11.

Presenting the General Budget, Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "The citizen-centric initiative Sevottam which was launched as a pilot project at Pune, Kochi and Chandigarh, will be extended to four more cities this year. The centralized processing centre at Bengaluru is now fully functional and processing around 20, 000 tax returns daily. This initiative aimed at reducing the physical interface between the taxpayers and the tax administration and to speed up procedures and processes, will be taken forward by setting up two more centers during the year."

Mr. Mukherjee disclosed that the Income Tax department is now ready to notify SARAL-II form for individual salaried taxpayers for the coming assessment year.

"The proposals related to indirect taxes are focused to achieve a further degree of fiscal consolidation without impairing the recovery process and moving forward on the road to GST. Project ACES-Automation of Central Excise and Service Tax, has been rolled out in the country," said Mr. Mukherjee.

This will impart greater transparency in tax administration and improve the delivery of taxpayer services. The Budget proposes to expand the scope of Settlement Commission in respect of Central Excise and Customs so that certain category of cases that hitherto fell outside its jurisdiction may be admitted. (ANI)