Web Based Status Tracking Facility Launched to Check Corruption in Income Tax Refunds
Instances of alleged corruption for settlement of refund claims and complaints come to notice from time to time. Whenever any such instance or complaints comes to notice, the same is verified and if it is found to be correct, the concerned officers/officials have to face penal consequences depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.
The process of issue of refunds has been streamlined in the course of computerization and encouraging e-filing of returns for speedy processing and issue of refunds through refund banker scheme. A web based status tracking facility for refunds has also been launched. The grievance redressal mechanism has been strengthened for ensuring prompt disposal of all such complaints.
Significant success has been achieved. An e-filed return claiming refund is now on an average processed within three to four months of its filing.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S. Palanimanickam in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
The published governmental Announcement, unwittingly or otherwise, does not concern itself with one important section of taxpayers, not so insignificant as to be totally ignored. For ‘individuals’, as per the latest requirement, made effective from the assessment year 2012-13,and onwards, the so called ‘e’filing’ of tax return/ refund claim was made compulsory, that too only if above a specified income level. As such, the measures said to have been lately announced do not prima facie concern or take care of all other cases namely, those individuals not coming within the ambit of the e’filing scheme. That is, those entitled to refund but claimed through tax returns manually filed, for assessment years preceding or for the assessment year 2012-13.
As pinpointed through the columns on this website so also others, repeatedly, a large number of such refund claims for the assessment year 2011-12,or prior ones, are heard to have been not looked into even till date, much less seriously taken up for settlement.
Sooner this bitter fact receives the special notice of the concerned and duly empowered highest executive authority, viz CBDT, so as to galvanise it into the earliest action, the better. Otherwise, the sizeable backlog is bound to keep growing to a worrisome magnitude; in the result, is bound to remain unattended to forever, may be to eternity. Thereby add to the already existing chaos in the regime of monitoring and settling refunds.
The Income Tax department till date a fierce department. They promise something and do something in reality differently…
In the last week I placed a grievance regarding refund. No.9776.
In the frist e-mail I got the above No. In the 2nd e-mail i am informed that it has been forwarded……(to whom)
In the 3rd e-mail i am informed that it is resolved.
Till date the assessee did not get his refund.
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