Nearly 29,000 tax defaulters owe Rs 3,770 crore to government

Tax defaults by nearly 29,000 taxpayers aggregate to Rs 3,770 crore, according to a tax department's analysis of e-returns filed in 2012-13.

Asking these tax-payers to voluntarily come forward and pay their dues immediately, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said the failure to comply with the advice will attract penal action.

"Analysis of e-filed returns filed in the current financial year reveals that nearly 29,000 taxpayers, where committed tax payable was in excess of Rs 50,000, have defaulted on the payments aggregating to approximately Rs 3,770 crore," CBDT said in a statement.

The tax department further said, "It is also brought to the notice of such taxpayers that default in payment of self assessment tax may invite penal consequences".

The government has made it mandatory for individuals with income of over Rs 10 lakh to file their tax returns for 2011-12 electronically. Also, most of the companies are required to furnish the returns electronically.

The Income Tax Department had received 1.64 crore e-returns in 2011-12 financial year.

As on March 31, 2012, there were 19,684,592 tax payers who had registered for e-filing. (PTI)