The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, gave its approval for extension of the contract for the Central Processing Centre (CPC) Project of the Income Tax Department at Bengaluru awarded to M/s Infosys Ltd by two years upto September 30th 2017. This would be after the end of the existing contract period on September 30th 2015 and for revision of the CPC project cost to ₹ 1,078.59 crore.

This decision has significant benefits for the Department and taxpayers, including, better taxpayer services, savings in interest outgo, better recovery of outstanding tax payments, and freeing up departmental manpower for handling higher scrutiny and investigation work.

The decision will ensure horizontal equity by processing almost all returns filed by all categories of taxpayers across the country in a consistent, uniform, rule driven, identity blind manner. This will assure fairness in tax treatment to every taxpayer irrespective of their status.

By faster processing of returns and issue of refunds to the taxpayer’s bank account directly without any interface with the Department, by adhering to international best practices and standards (ISO certification) and by providing processing status updates and speedy communication using email, SMS and on the Department website, the decision will ensure transparency and accountability.

The proposal ensures the continuation of the Department`s goal towards business transformation through technology. The CPC has enabled end to end automation of all processes within the Department using various innovative methods to provide taxpayer services and to promote voluntary compliance.

Contract extension for the CPC project continues outsourced automated processing and revises project cost to improve taxpayer services. Approval extends the outsourced contract for the Central Processing Centre project in Bengaluru and revises the project cost, maintaining automated processing and refund issuance to enhance taxpayer services, ensure uniform rule driven treatment of returns, and support the Department's technology led business transformation.