CBDT relaxes norms on scrutiny of taxpayers

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has decided to relax norms on scrutiny of taxpayers whose premises have been surveyed by the officials, a step aimed at encouraging evaders to pay up. "The decision is likely to provide relief to thousands of taxpayers and it would save them from harassment at the hands of taxmen apart from litigation costs," said a senior finance ministry official. The decision has been taken following Finance Minister P Chidambaram's assertion that the government wanted to send a message that those who comply with the tax laws would not be harassed by the tax officials. The CBDT has decided to exempt a taxpayer from scrutiny after a survey if his account books are not impounded, there is no retraction of income declared during the survey and income declared excluding additional tax demanded by the department is not less than the last fiscal, the official said. www.business-standard.com