Income Tax dept to set up special ‘tax kiosks’ and Mobile Vans

TG Team 26 Jun 2012 1,610 Views 0 comment Print Income Tax | News, Notifications/Circulars, Press Releases

For the first time, the Income Tax department has decided to set up special ‘tax kiosks’ in residential areas and localities for facilitating a host of taxpayer related services in view of the forthcoming tax returns filing season. The initiative will ensure that the taxpayers are not required to travel to I-T offices or other special camps for performing tasks like filing of returns, tracking refunds and applying for fresh PAN cards.

The department has also decided to run and station ‘mobile vans’ in smaller cities, manned by I-T trained personnel, who would help taxpayers perform their tasks in view of the July 31 deadline of filing I-T returns.

The innovative measure has been taken by the department after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had recently asked the I-T top brass, during their conference held here, to execute new and innovative ideas for the welfare of taxpayers.

“The department had run a pilot project in this regard last year. The plan will be executed this year countrywide”, a top I-T department official said.

The department, in various cities in the country, will talk to the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and other such bodies for establishing these temporary kiosks at apartment blocks, large office complexes and other central locations of the city, the official said.

The ‘mobile vans’, in smaller cities, will act as a ‘single window’ for salaried and other small and marginal taxpayers.

Metros and other big centres will have the ‘tax kiosks’. These vans and kiosks, which will be stationed at one location for 1-2 days, will be manned by trained Tax Return Prepares (TRPS) who help the taxpayers in filing returns.

The department will also issue advertisements in order to publicise the location and timing of these kiosks and vans.

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MOST IMMEDIATE

PRESS RELEASE F.No.RC/TRP-1(1)/2011-12

Dated 19^th June 2012

Dear

Subject: Setting up of Tax Kiosks and use of mobile vans in CCIT (CCA) region – reg.-

One of the main objectives of Tax Return Preparer Scheme (“TRP Scheme”) is to encourage voluntary compliance amongst small and marginal taxpayers. The Department has trained Tax Return Preparers (TRPs) who assist individual and HUF in preparing their returns of income. The last date for filing of return for individuals and HUFs taxpayers is approaching. As a taxpayer friendly initiative, the Department has decided to set up Tax Kiosks at various places within CCIT regions. The Tax Kiosk would be a temporary structure set up for 1-2 days in a residential area such as apartment blocks in association with RWAs, large offices and other central locations of the cities. Photographs of a Kiosk set up on pilot basis last year can be viewed at our website – www.incometaxindiapr.gov.in These Tax Kiosks would be manned by TRPs who would handle queries of taxpayers relating to return filing, PAN applications, refund status as well as assist the taxpayers in preparing their returns of income.

I may also mention that the Hon’ble F.M has, during the All India Chief Commissioners’ Conference, asked the Department to pursue innovative ideas such as using ‘single-window’ mobile vans in tier-II and tier-III cities to take our service to the taxpayers’ door-step thereby reducing compliance costs. I request the Chief Commissioners having jurisdiction over tier-II and tier-III cities to hire mobile vans for reaching out to the taxpayers during the return filing season. These mobile vans may be branded by using our print advertisement creatives available on the website www.incometaxindiapr.gov.in. The mobile vans may be manned by TRPs and activities suggested for Tax Kiosks may be undertaken through these vans also.

The coordination of these initiatives at local level would be done by the office of CIT concerned who may depute officials for supervision of the kiosk as well as mobile vans. The CIT concerned may, if required, get in touch with Directorate of Income Tax (PR,PP&OL) which will be coordinating these initiatives at Central level.

With Yours

Sd/-

(Anita Kapur)

1. Sh.Jaspal Singh