Have earned Rs 11,000cr in taxes from erstwhile non payers: CBDT

The government is concerned about honest taxpayers and expressed its views over sending letters to taxpayers in the non-filer monitoring system, which is keeping them in the same bracket as tax evaders.One crore people have filed their tax returns and have paid taxes of over Rs 11,000 crore and we may soon come up with measures to curb tax evasion, said Rani Nair, member of the central board of direct taxes (CBDT).Below is the verbatim transcript of Rani Nair’s interview with Sapna Das on CNBC-TV18. Q: What measures is CBDT taking to curb tax evasion? A: If you look at the last few years and specially the last two years, the government has been sending letters to the taxpayers in the non-filers monitoring system. Up till now, you will be surprised to know, that 1 crore people have filed the returns and have paid taxes of Rs 11,000 crore plus. So, we are going to reach you, it is up to you whether you want to take this opportunity to come and pay the taxes and become a compliant tax payer. If you look, there are a lot of benefits in this scheme because when we say that at 45 percent, people are saying that why should I pay 45 percent, but you and I pay taxes at 35 percent, so you have only a 10 percent extra that you are paying. You have used this money for the last so many years, you have not paid your taxes; I have to be concerned my honest tax payer. It would be incorrect that the honest tax payer and the dishonest or the tax payer who is not paying his taxes, pay at the same rate.