Indirect Tax Ombudsmen to incite taxpayers to flag problems

The Indirect Tax Ombudsmen (ITOM) will be holding meetings with trade and industry associations in their jurisdiction and encourage taxpayers to bring forth problems and issues, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday. This was decided in a meeting held by the Chairman, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) with the ITOM from Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bangalore here. The meeting was aimed at seeking their suggestions for strengthening and improving the functioning of the institution of ITOM, the Ministry said in a statement.

Taxpayers can approach the ITOM if they have complaints of deficiency in the working of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax Departments on account of non-adherence to the prescribed working hours and procedural delays in refunds, rebate, drawback and other such matters. The Ombudsmen were created for protecting the rights of the taxpayers and also to suggest remedial action for redress of their grievances. The Ministry further said the CBEC has taken several initiatives to improve and facilitate trade and business in the 'year of tax payers' services.

Strengthening the institution of Ombudsman is also step in this direction, it added.