The Income Tax Department has set a target of collecting Rs 82,000 crore from the Karnataka-Goa region this financial year. 

Disclosing this, Income Tax Additional Commissioner Jayaram Raipura on Friday said the department had collected Rs 70,000 crore in the last fiscal. It is “trying to tighten the screws” on tax defaulters, Raipura told reporters, without divulging the exact number of defaulters in the region.

He said they have, however, contacted “lakhs of people” via e-mail and other means to ensure that they file taxes on time.

Raipura said the department has been coordinating with banks and sub-registrar offices and collecting information about individuals to ensure that tax returns are filed.

“Due to this and other means, the department has been able to increase the tax amount by 50 per cent every year. In 2014-15, 17.7 lakh people filed their tax returns in Karnataka, with the number expected to increase to 19 lakh this year.”

Tax Base Expansion

Raipura said major initiatives are being taken up to expand the tax base, with the department targetting Rs 1 crore assessees.

“We will ensure tax collection is done from these assessees in a non-intrusive manner,” he said.

On the delay in issuing tax refunds, he said this normally takes four months. “However, there might be delays if there are errors in the Centralised Processing Centre as technical glitches might cause problems.”

Counters Opened

The income tax department will set up 36 tax return receipt centres at Gayatri Vihar, Palace Grounds, for the benefit of salaried employees and pensioners in the city. The counters will be open from Saturday to Monday. At Palace Grounds, 12 help desk counters, 10 e-filing counters, eight tax return preparing counters and 36 return receipt counters will be set up. (Indian Express)