I-T officers flay CBDT for seeking daily reports during corona crisis

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has asked its officers to contact the large taxpayers on telephone or email to follow up on the large payments due while working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

CBDT has sought a daily report from field formations who are under countrywide lockdown.

The CBDT message reads, "However, in today's connected world and tech savvy workforce, it is possible to continue working from home. While the ITBA platform is not available to officers for discharging statutory functions, it is still possible to follow up the pending collection matters by contacting large taxpayers telephonically/electronically."

To this the Income Tax Officers association has taken objection and asked for a humane approach in these times of crisis when the country is battling a pandemic.

"You are therefore, requested to kindly direct the authorities below you to remain positive, sensitive towards the present situation, adopt humane approach and avoid pressing panic button within the department," the association said in a letter to the CBDT chairman.

The Income Tax officers have asked CBDT to keep in mind the issues firstly faced by the IT Department, their families, Covid-19 issues faced in office and solutions to resolve these.

The Income Tax Officers have said that it is not possible for Assessing Officers to give daily reports of collections. The figures can be obtained from the dashboard.

They have pointed out that the staff required for several of these functions is not keen to attend office and no official vehicle has been provided.

"It is inhuman to ask the DDOs and their staff to attend office in these circumstances and is in contravention of the GoI instructions to curb spread of Covid-19," the officers said. IANS