Increasing number of income tax returns: CBDT chairman

Central Board of Direct Taxes Chairperson Sangeeta Singh said on June 11 that there has been an increase in the number of income tax returns in FY22 as compared to the previous financial year.

Ms. Singh said the number of Income Tax Returns in the last financial year was 7.14 crore as against 6.9 crore in the previous financial year, showing a clear increase.

“There has been an increase in the number of taxpayers filing Aadhaar and amended returns,” he said.

The board is seeing an increase in tax collections, which usually happens when the country is showing an upward trend in economic growth, the chairman said, adding that “if economic activity is getting high, buying and selling will also increase”.

He said that unless the economy goes upwards, there cannot be an increase in taxes.

“Secondly, due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative and call about Digital India, the department is also witnessing an increase in payment of taxes,” he said, adding that during the COVID-19 period, people have moved more digitally. had started paying, which was “probably changing people’s minds”.

It is also contributing to the awareness of taxpayers to pay taxes on time. “We have also done massive digitization over the years,” she said.

For FY 2012, the tax collection is over Rs 14 lakh crore, which, according to the Chairman, is much better than the FY 2010 collection.

He said that outreach programs are organized by the CBDT through the Principal Chief Commissioners to make people aware about the payment of taxes.

Initiatives like updated returns are also getting good response.

“Once you have paid the return, and if we get additional information, we ask you if you have covered it, you can file an updated return,” Ms. Singh said.