In a response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Finance confirmed a significant increase in the number of income tax returns filed over the last five years, with filings rising from 6.78 crores in FY 2019-20 to 8.61 crores in FY 2023-24. To encourage timely and early filings, the government has implemented various targeted campaigns, including email and SMS notifications sent to over 12.24 crore registered taxpayers. These campaigns focus on stop-filers and non-filers identified through the Risk Management Strategy (RMS), pushing their cases to the Compliance Portal to prompt responses. Additionally, numerous awareness and outreach programs have been conducted to promote voluntary compliance. However, the government clarified that it does not issue income tax returns, addressing any misconceptions regarding its role in this process. These efforts aim to streamline the filing process and enhance taxpayer compliance across the country.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.159
TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 22nd JULY, 2024
ASHADHA 31, 1946 (SAKA)
‘NUMBER OF TAX RETURNS FILED’
159. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:
(a) whether there has been an increase in the number of tax returns filed during the last five years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has introduced any targeted campaigns or initiatives to encourage more people to file their Income-Tax returns;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has taken any steps to expedite the issuance of Income-tax returns; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a) Yes sir.
(b) The details of income tax returns filed during last five years are as under:
| F.Y. | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
| Number of
returns filed |
6,78,97,450 | 7,38,98,581 | 7,30,47,073 | 7,78,16,350 | 8,61,32,779 |
(c) & (d) The details of targeted campaigns or initiatives to encourage more people to file their Income-Tax returns are as under:
Email and SMS campaigns:
The Email and SMS campaigns are sent to all the eligible registered taxpayers on e-Filing portal for promoting early and timely e-Filing of Income-tax Returns. Currently, the total number of registered taxpayers on the e-Filing portal is 12,24,32,343. The e-campaigns are also targeted to stop-filers and non-filers.
The cases of Non-filers identified through Risk Management Strategy (RMS) are pushed to Compliance Portal to seek response from the taxpayer. This campaign is a part of the voluntary compliance management framework of the department for promoting voluntary compliance.
A number of awareness generation and outreach programmes are also conducted for this purpose.
(e) & (f) The Government does not issue Income-tax returns, hence, the question does not arise.
