Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Cabinet

 31-March-2011 18:21 IST

Creation of seven posts of Indirect Tax Ombudsman

The Union Cabinet today approved creation of seven posts of Indirect Tax Ombudsman to be located at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow in the HAG + scale of Rs.75,500-80,000/- and the supporting staff. The Indirect Tax Ombudsman Guidelines, 2011 has also been approved.

The Indirect Tax Ombudsman shall have powers to receive complaints from tax payers on indirect tax matters and consider such complaints and facilitate their satisfaction or settlement by agreement through conciliation and mediation between the Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax department and the aggrieved parties or by passing an 'Award’ in accordance with the Guidelines.

It is expected that this will result in making the grievance redressal mechanism in the Customs, Central Excise and the Service Taxes offices under the CBEC more effective and transparent.

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RCJ/SH/LV

Indirect Tax Ombudsman powers to resolve taxpayer complaints via conciliation, mediation and award-based settlement. Approval was granted for seven regional posts of Indirect Tax Ombudsman with supporting staff to receive taxpayer complaints on indirect tax matters, facilitate settlement by conciliation and mediation with Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax departments, and, where appropriate, resolve disputes by issuing an Award under the approved Guidelines to strengthen grievance redressal and administrative transparency.