Boosting Trust: Sitharaman's Call for Tax Benchmark Excellence

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged income tax officers to elevate their execution standards, highlighting the need for timely policy implementation and taxpayer trust. She praised their adaptability in technology and efforts in drafting the new tax bill. Sitharaman emphasized the importance of strengthening the social contract with taxpayers.

On Monday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called on income tax officers to elevate their standards in executing policies promptly and to build trust among taxpayers through exemplary conduct.

During the 166th Income Tax Day event, Sitharaman commended I-T officers for swiftly adapting to new technologies and drafting the new income tax bill in a mere six months. She urged them to clear the pending Order Giving Effect (OGE) backlogs quickly, emphasizing that effective policy execution is crucial.

Sitharaman highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong 'social contract' between the state and taxpayers, stressing the need for transparency and trust. She praised officers involved in the new tax bill's drafting, noting that 60,000 man-hours were invested in simplifying the 1961 law, which hadn't undergone a comprehensive review in decades.

(With inputs from agencies.)