New online chat support for taxpayers on I-T website
In a significant help for taxpayers, the Income Tax department has launched an 'online chat' to help citizens resolve basic queries and doubts. The new service is placed prominently in the bottom right corner of the department's website at http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in. According to an official, taxpayers' queries will be answered by "experts from the department and independent tax practitioners".
How to use the new service?
To use the service, click on the box at the bottom right corner labeled 'Live Chat Online- ask your query'. You will have to enter your email ID and your query to ask questions as a 'guest'. "An option has also been provided to the taxpayer for emailing the entire chat to their IDs for future reference," the official said.
'Not official clarifications by the I-T department'
However, I-T has clarified answers provided in the chat won't be official responses of the department. "The replies are based on the opinion of the expert and in no manner it should be interpreted as the clarification by the income tax department on any matter."
I-T has worked to bring efficiency, transparency, fairness: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said direct tax collections up to September 18 in FY2017-18 had grown by 15.7%. There was also a significant increase in the number of taxpayers from FY2012-13 (4.72cr) to FY2016-17 (6.25cr). This year, 97% returns were filed electronically. He attributed the change to "various initiatives (by I-T) to bring about efficiency, transparency, and fairness in tax administration".
