Income Tax Department Conducts the Second Round of Data Matching Identifying New 21.75 Lakh Potential Non-Filers and Information About Them Made Available on the ‘Compliance Module’ on E-Filing Portal of the Department

The Income Tax Department, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has now conducted the second round of data matching which has identified additional 21.75 lakh potential non-filers. The Department has sent letters to the 50,000 potential non filers in the first batch. The information relating to the 21.75 lakh new non-filers has been made available on the ‘Compliance Module’ on the e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department. The information will be shown only to the specific PAN holder when the PAN holder logs into e-filing portal at https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. The PAN holder will be able to submit the response electronically and keep a print-out of the submitted response for record purposes.

Earlier the Income Tax Department had initiated a business intelligence project in February, 2013 to identify PAN holders who have not filed Income Tax Return and about whom specific information is available in Annual Information Return (AIR), Central Information Branch (CIB) data and TDS/TCS Returns. In the first round of data matching, 12.19 lakh non-filers were identified. Letters have been sent in these cases by the Compliance Management Cell and Assessing officers seeking the response of the taxpayer. The results of this initiative is very encouraging and 5,36,220 returns have been received from the target segment. Self assessment tax of Rs.1017.87 Cr. and advance tax of Rs. 898.22 Cr. has also been paid by the target segment.

While the Government urges all tax payers to disclose their true income and pay appropriate taxes, the Tax Department would continue to pursue the non filers vigorously till all the high potential non filers are covered.

Data matching identifies potential tax non-filers; e-filing portal lets PAN holders respond electronically and enforcement follow-up continues. Second-round data matching identified 21.75 lakh potential non-filers whose records are available on the Compliance Module of the e-filing portal; information is shown only to the specific PAN holder who may submit an electronic response and retain a printout. The Department has earlier identified 12.19 lakh non-filers and reports 5,36,220 returns received from the targeted segment, together with associated self-assessment and advance tax collections.