The Income Tax (I-T) department has no record of its performance over the last two months. This is because of the ongoing nationwide agitation by I-T officials - from the level of income tax officer (ITO) to assistant commissioner of income tax (ACIT)/ deputy commissioner of income tax (DCIT).

To mark their protest, they are not submitting the Central Action Plan (CAP) report for October and November. The report indicates the trend in direct tax collection and determines growth.

More than 8,000 officials across the country, and 1,000 in Mumbai, went on a strike from Monday, protesting against pending promotions over the last two years. They have decided to sustain the agitation till an amicable solution is reached with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex body of the I-T department. They have refused to participate in surveys and search operations.

Officials from various assessment charges prepare the CAP report on a monthly basis, which is submitted to the CBDT in the first week of the subsequent month. "The absence of the latest CAP report would create problems in framing policies for the finance ministry, as the exact record of tax collection is not available," said a senior I-T official.

The report indicates the number of cases assessed, worth of tax demands raised, and amount of tax demand collected. It also gives the amount of refunds issued, which is deducted from the gross tax collection, to arrive at the net collection figure.

The CBDT on Monday verbally assured that the promotions would be cleared by the end of the month, but protesting officials refused to budge saying that they wanted a written communication.

The Income Tax Gazetted Officers' Association (ITGOA), which represents these officials, will hold another round of meetings with CBDT chairman MC Joshi on Wednesday.

Confirming that the CAP reports had not been submitted, Rajesh Menon, secretary general, ITGOA said that Wednesday's meeting would decide the course of action. "We will end the protest if our demands are met," he said. (Hindustant Times)