The income tax department’s scheme for assessing tax returns electronically without any personal contact between officials and tax payers has become effective, with the government notifying the e-assessment scheme, 2019, on Friday.

Personal representation is allowed under the scheme in specific circumstances such as appeals against the assessment.

The scheme is part of the government’s efforts to reduce human discretion in the assessment and scrutiny of tax returns that in turn could help eliminate possibilities of corruption. The finance ministry had introduced an enabling provision for the scheme in the law through Finance Act of 2018.

The department has been running a pilot in select cities to test the feasibility of the new system of tax assessment for the last few years. Experts said e-assessment could reduce visits by taxpayers to income tax offices, thereby bringing anonymity in proceedings using technology.

Following the completion of scrutiny of assessments under electronic mode, appeals would continue through personal representation or an appointed counsel. #casansaar (Source - LiveMint, ET)