In a major achievement, Income Tax Department has collected highest ever Rs 1118 crore tax in Jammu and Kashmir and increased the number of assessees by nearly 89,000 during the just concluded financial year 2018-19 financial year .Where as in 2017-18 financial year the gross tax collection was to Rs 966 crore.
During 2016-17 financial year Rs 751 tax collected by department, however in 2015-16 financial year the tax collection was Rs 994 crore as a result the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had to pass strict instructions to the department’s officers in Jammu and Kashmir to gear up their activities to meet the targets of gross tax collection
For achieving this feat, the taxmen had to initiate some strong measures in the form of surveys, searches and raids besides holding unaccounted number of awareness programmes and interactions with different sections of the society, the online news reports mention that stern action of the Income Tax Department against the habitual tax evaders played key role in collection of record tax.
As on April 1, 2018, there were total 361910 assessees across Jammu and Kashmir but this number has increased to 450818 as on April 1, 2019. Of nearly 89000 new assessees, over 27000 have been added from Kashmir province and remaining from Jammu province, sources further disclosed, adding notwithstanding addition of such a large number of new assessees still vast population remains non-filer of income tax returns
It is pertinent to mention here that for the first time large number of surveys, searches and raids were conducted in Kashmir valley against the top habitual tax evaders. Moreover, necessary action was also taken against the Kashmir separatists besides launching prosecution against a number of tax evaders.
The unorganized sector like real estate and private healthcare institutions were completely out of focus in the past but during the just concluded financial year necessary attention was paid towards this area which also yielded positive results in the form of payment of huge tax.
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It is pertinent to mention here that for the first time large number of surveys, searches and raids were conducted in Kashmir valley against the top habitual tax evaders. Moreover, necessary action was also taken against the Kashmir separatists besides launching prosecution against a number of tax evaders.
