Identification of Tax Evaders & Survey on Tax Evasion and Collection in India

Government of India has conducted surveys under section 133A of the Income Tax Act to identify tax evaders. In the last three years, surveys were carried out in 2021-22 (1046), 2022-23 (1245), and 2023-24 (737). Alongside these efforts, the government has enhanced service delivery through digital platforms for filing returns, payments, and refunds, while setting up help centers like Aaykar Seva Kendra and GST Seva Kendra. On the Customs front, new initiatives, including an AI-based chatbot and digitization of procedures, were introduced to improve taxpayer services. As for tax collections, the government reported net direct tax collections from April to October for 2021-22 at ₹655,072.81 crore, 2022-23 at ₹822,169.68 crore, and a projected ₹1,143,863.44 crore for 2024-25, showing a steady increase. The total net central indirect taxes, including GST, saw similar growth, with a collection of ₹9,07,856 crore for 2024-25. State-wise tax collection data for 2024 (from April to November) was provided, showing substantial GST and direct tax collections across all states, with Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu leading in contributions.

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2213
TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1946 (SAKA)

IDENTIFICATION OF TAX EVADERS

†2213 . SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

a. whether the Government has conducted any survey to identify tax evaders and to provide better services to tax payers in the country during the last three years;

b. if so, the details thereof;

c. the details of the taxes collected during the current year so far State-wise; and

d. the extent to which the amount of tax collected during the year is less or more as compared to the amount of tax collected during the last three years?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (b): The details of surveys u/s 133A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 conducted by Income Tax Department during the last three years is as under:

The government has taken number of steps to improve service delivery including digitalization of services like filing of returns, making payments , refunds, faceless assessment and appeal etc. Aaykar Seva Kendra and GST Seva Kendra have been set up in various offices to provide any assistance required by tax payers. Several steps have been taken to improve GST-related service delivery with the digitization of all services provided to the taxpayers. On Customs side, a number of key initiatives have been taken for improving tax payers services including the extension of benefits of exports through courier mode, IGST refund for export through Dak Niryat Kendras, launch of a new ICEGATE website with AI-based interactive chatbot, introduction of exchange rate automation module and digitization of Customs Bonded Warehouse procedures. Various outreach programmes are also conducted from time to time.

(c) The details of State-wise summary on Gross Tax Collection (April 2024 to November 2024) are attached as Annexure A.

(d) The details of tax collected this financial year (April to October) compared to the tax collected in last three years is as under:

(Rs. in Crore)

(Rs in Crore)

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Annexure ‘A’