Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 14: Chief Commissioner of Income Tax Vikram Sahay today said that the issuance of notices by the Department should not be seen as punitive but rather as a mechanism to seek information.
He was speaking during an interactive awareness session organized by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC), Lassipora.
“He reassured participants that there was no need to panic upon receiving such notices, as the Department is committed to supporting honest taxpayers,” KCCI said in a statement.
The program witnessed active participation from several unit holders based in the Lassipora industrial estate and aimed to promote direct engagement between the Income Tax Department and the business community.
He cautioned that non-response to income tax notices often leads to complications, including the raising of avoidable tax demands and, in some cases, freezing of accounts-as happened in a few cases last year.
Sahay was accompanied by key officers of the Income Tax Department, including Dr. Ruveda Salam, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Srinagar; Shakeel Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle Srinagar; and Abhineet Jhorar, Income Tax Officer.
He urged the business community to ensure that all claims and deductions are genuine and properly documented. He also advised that tax consultants should be well-informed and not encourage the filing of inaccurate or exaggerated claims, which has been observed even among government employees.
Reiterating the Department’s commitment to transparency, Sahay encouraged taxpayers to directly approach the Department for any clarification.
The Chief Commissioner also advised businesses to regularly update their mobile numbers and email addresses with the Department in order to receive timely alerts and messages.
He reminded participants of the importance of advance tax payments-scheduled on 15 June, 15 September, 15 December, and 15 March-which he said are vital for the country’s financial system.
During the discussion, participants raised the issue of South Kashmir’s jurisdiction being attached to the Udhampur Income Tax Office, which has caused inconvenience, particularly to growers.
In response, Sahay informed that suggestions for the creation of additional Income Tax wards have already been submitted and assured that instructions would be given to the Udhampur office to organise a facilitation camp at Lassipora to ease compliance.
KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga stated that the session marks the beginning of a broader collaborative effort between KCCI and the Income Tax Department to raise awareness at the grassroots level.
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