Govt moots single-point contact for black money disclosures

In order to give wide publicity, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has also suggested putting up posters about the Income Declaration Scheme-2016, at places frequented by frequented by potential declarants, like club houses, posh markets, showrooms of high end products.

The four-pronged strategy prepared by the CBDT for the success of the scheme, includes single point contact to ensure confidentiality, setting up of facilitation centres across the country, giving wide publicity and monitoring at the highest level. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Budget had announced a four-month window under the Income Declaration Scheme 2016.

The scheme, which opened on June 1, allows domestic black money holders to declare ill-gotten wealth and come clean by paying a tax and penalty totalling 45 per cent.

“All out efforts are to be made to ensure the targeted taxpayers are well informed about the scheme and are adequately guided and facilitated for filing declarations so that they can avail maximum benefits under the scheme, which is under highest consideration of the government during the coming months,” the CBDT said in an office memorandum.

In order to ensure confidentiality of the declarants, CBDT has said only Principal Commissioner or Commissioner Income Tax should act as a “single point of contact” for interacting with the declarants.

“Such Pr CIIT/CIT should be the one and only point of contact with the respective declarant. The idea is to ensure the declarant is not exposed to multiple persons in the office so that his confidentiality is not compromised and he is able to file the declaration in a hassle free manner,” it added.

The detailed action plan for the success of black money disclosure scheme was discussed at the annual conference of tax administrators last week. 

In its strategy, CBDT has asked Principal Commissioners and Commissioners to provide all “procedural facilities” at the time of disclosure so as to avoid additional interaction with anyone else in the office. “All records related to IDS-2016 must be kept in the personal custody of the respective Principal CIT /CIT officer in a safe and secure manner,” it said, adding officer with “good inter-personal skills” be deputed as ‘Facilitation Officer’ to answer queries related to the scheme.