PM Narendra Modi launches platform for 'Transparent Taxation'

PM Narendra Modi (File image)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 13 launched the ‘Transparent Taxation, Honoring the Honest’ platform to further its initiative to reform direct taxes in India.

The platform is aimed at bringing more transparency in official communication through the newly-introduced Document Identification Number (DIN).

PM Modi said the ongoing structural reforms have "reached new heights today" and that the 'Transparent Taxation - Honoring the Honest' platform will "have faceless assessments, faceless appeal and taxpayer charter."

"Faceless appeal will be applicable from September 25, while faceless assessment and taxpayer charter will come into place from today itself," PM Modi added.

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The taxpayers' charter and faceless assessment are the next phases of direct tax reforms aimed at easing compliance and rewarding honest taxpayers as the government looks to rebuild the pandemic-hit economy.

Faceless assessment, which does not require taxpayers to visit any office or meet any official, and taxpayers' charter will be implemented August 13. The faceless appeal will come into force from September 25, PM Modi announced.

The prime minister said honouring the honest taxpayer will help in nation building and that the platform’s launch was another step towards ‘minimum government, maximum governance’.

In Pictures | Direct tax reforms: PM Modi’s ‘Transparent Taxation’ initiative to honour the honest taxpayer

PM Modi said that a complex tax system leads to low compliance and thus, the aim is to have clear laws and less compliance burden for taxpayers. He added that the government was trying to create a seamless, faceless and “painless” tax system.

The Income Tax Department will use technology to handle scrutiny through random allocation of cases, PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the platform for “Transparent Taxation – Honoring The Honest pic.twitter.com/vrXHPASMcs

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2020

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "Today is the landmark day in the history of the taxation administration. The launch will bring certainty of information."