An Outreach Programme was organized in Mangaldai of Assam’s Darrang disttict on Friday by the office of Income Tax Officer.
The outreach programme was an attempt to bring the tax paying citizens especially living in the sixth schedule areas, closer to the Income Tax Department so that they may enjoy benefits of income tax returns facilities.
Doly Loyi, additional commissioner of Income-tax, Range – Tezpur, Sonitpur while presiding over the programme discussed the various issues relating to exemption under section 10 (26) of the Income Tax Act, 1962 for Scheduled Tribe person as defined in clause (25) of Article 366 of the Constitution residing in the Sixth Scheduled Area, benefits of filing of Income Tax Returns, taxation on income of tribals in non tribal areas , partnership firms, the necessity of compliance to the notices, letters issued by the Income Tax Department etc.
He said that the income tax officials will no longer remain in their offices, they are coming down to the tax paying citizens of the country so that people may feel free to share any income tax related issues with the department officials.
“Ours is a revenue earning, law enforcing department and at the same time it is tax payer’s service. We are ready to serve the tax payers,” said additional commissioner Loyi.
He also warned the tribal contractors, traders of the sixth schedule not to allow their names for tax evasion by any one else . Dipak Kumar Singh, ITO, Ward–Mangaldoi having jurisdiction over the district of Darrang and Sixth Scheduled district of Udalguri(BTAD), requested the participants to be aware of their rights and duties with regard to Income Tax issues and to take the assistance of the Income tax office at Mangaldoi in case of any difficulty arises in compliance.
Sanjib Das, ITO, Tezpur also spoke on the occasion. The income tax officials also interacted openly with the participants comprising prominent tribal contractors, traders, chartered accountant, local tax practitioners including prominent women entrepreneurs replied to the queries some of them had raised.