New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) Worried over reports of alleged corruption especially in issuing refunds to taxpayers, the Income Tax Department has brought its own officials under strict vigilance scanner and has issued instructions to the top brass to constantly monitor the process.

The I-T vigilance wing has also decided to conduct surprise inspections to check the process of issuing refunds from both the department and the bankers side.

The vigilance wing has found that the issue of refunds is "prone to grievances" from taxpayers and that pro-active measures should be taken by top I-T officials to make the process more transparent.

The I-T vigilance wing has written to all the Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (CCITs) in the country in this regard.

"A number of complaints regarding refunds including those issued under the Refund Banker Scheme have been brought to the notice of the department. Tax refund oversight tightened: vigilance, surprise inspections and banker scrutiny to improve refund transparency and accountability. The department's vigilance wing directed senior officials to monitor refund-processing continuously, implement pro-active transparency measures, and conduct surprise inspections of both departmental refund procedures and banking operations, noting that refund issuance is prone to grievances and advising Chief Commissioners to scrutinise complaints under the Refund Banker Scheme.