The Income Tax department today said the tax returns filed by senior citizens, who are above 60 years, and small taxpayers having a gross total income of less than Rs. 10 lakh, will not attract the routine scrutiny by the department.

 

“In order to redress the grievance, it has been decided that during the financial year 2011-12, cases of senior citizens and small taxpayers, filing income-tax returns in ITR-1 and ITR-2 will be subjected to scrutiny only where the Income Tax department is in possession of credible information,” Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement.

 

The CBDT said that not only the prolonged procedure of the scrutiny but the selection of same cases repeatedly, had evoked concern from small taxpayers and senior citizens.

 

The department said that the move will mitigate the hardships of tax payers.