The Prime Minister’s Office has published a press release dated 14th August, 20020, drawing attention to the launch of the platform, ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’
The platform deals with reforms in the taxation system, such as Faceless Assessment, Faceless Appeal and Taxpayers Charter. Faceless Assessment and Taxpayers Charter are in force as of 13th August, 2020. The facility of Faceless Appeal will be available from 25th September, 2020.
The reforms are intended to increase the confidence of taxpayers. Moreover, the reforms are said to be aimed at creating a Seamless, Painless and Faceless Tax System. It expounds that a seamless system will work to resolve the troubles of taxpayers rather than entrapping them further. A painless system is one that is simple and a faceless system implies no direct contact between the Taxpayer and the Income Tax Officer in all matters.
The reforms reflect the government’s resolve to provide maximum governance with minimum government. The Press Release declares that the Prime Minister has recognised the responsibility of the Government to ease the lives of honest taxpayers.
The Prime Minister communicated that the country’s tax structure needed fundamental reforms, as little change was introduced to it post-independence. He highlighted that simplified laws make compliance easier.
The Prime Minister stated that the tax slabs have also been justified as a part of the ongoing reforms. He illustrated that there is no tax up to an income of 5 lakh rupees, while other tax rates have been reduced as well.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Charter maintains the dignity of the taxpayers and has trust at its fulcrum. This implies that accusations against a taxpayer cannot be unfounded.
The release seeks to urge people to come forward to pay the taxes due. It points out that in a country of 130 crore people, only 1.5 Crore pay taxes.
