New Delhi, Sep 6 (PTI) Tax collection should be a smooth process and there should be minimum discomfort to the tax- payer, President Ram Nath Kovind said here today.

He said the collection of revenue is critical to the task of nation building.

Citing Chanakya, Kovind said a government should collect taxes like a honeybee, which collects just the right amount of nectar from flowers so that both can survive.

Kovind was addressing probationers of the 67th (2015) batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise) who called on him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

He said that in a sense the young officers would drive the Goods and Services Tax, which he termed as the biggest economic reform since Independence.

Kovind said the age of globalization and technological advance has thrown up enormous opportunities for trade and investment.

“It also, unfortunately, creates avenues for fraud and money laundering. It is their job to promote economic activity and curb fraud. Both these goals are important,” a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan quoted the President as saying.

He told the probationers that work they do has implications for India and for India's reputation in the world - as a trusted business destination, with a fair and predictable tax regime.

Tax collection should minimize taxpayer hardship while balancing promotion of commerce and anti fraud enforcement measures. Tax collection should proceed with minimal taxpayer discomfort and support revenue mobilization; officers must implement the Goods and Services Tax while balancing promotion of economic activity and active prevention of fraud and money laundering to preserve a fair, predictable tax regime and protect India's reputation as a trusted business destination.