PM to hold interactive session with taxmen on June 16

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an interactive session with the top brass of the two revenue collection arms of the government –CBDT and CBEC –during a first-of-its-kind ‘Rajasva Gyan Sangam’ on June 16.

Sources said both the boards have been asked to direct their officials to prepare suggestions on “important policy- level and innovative ideas of far reaching impact relating to the legislative and administrative framework of taxation in India” that they can be put forth to Prime Minister during the conclave at Vigyan Bhavan here.

The Finance Ministry in a statement today said the Prime Minister will inaugurate the two-day annual conference of senior tax administrators of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) & Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) on Thursday.

While the CBDT is responsible for collecting direct taxes, CBEC does the same vis-a-vis indirect taxes.

“He (Modi) is expected to motivate the revenue officers towards achieving high standards in taxpayer friendly service in view of fast paced changes in the world economy and to address some of the challenges that these departments face in this scenario,” the statement read.

The Annual Conference has been given a brand new name — Rajasav Gyansangam (Revenue Officers’ brainstorming retreat).

This is for the first time that the two revenue boards are holding their conference simultaneously. Till now, they used to hold conferences separately with the chief guest being the finance minister.

Meanwhile, in a tweet Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said the blueprint of the ‘Gyan Sangam’, the details of the deliberations and recommendations will be sent to the FM’s office and the PMO.

Sources said that similar ideas will also be put forth to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who will be holding a session during the two-day conference.