From the desk of Chairman,CBDT     

S.N. 49/May 27, 2011

Transparency in Survey operations

For bringing transparency in survey operations and obviate the possibility of any grievance to the taxpayers, it is decided that henceforth:

1. Survey teams visiting taxpayer’s premises under the provisions of section 133 A of the Income tax Act will, before the commencement of  survey proceedings,provide to the taxpayer the names, designations & contact numbers of their Chief Commissioner, Commissioner &Additional/ Joint   Commissioner of Income Tax.

2. Inform the taxpayer that in case of any grievance or otherwise, he is free to contact Chief Commissioner /Commissioner /Addl Commissioner/Joint Commissioner of Income Tax.

In order to give effect to the above instruction, survey parties will invariably carry in their survey kit names, designations & contact numbers of their CCIT / CIT / Addl / JCIT in the following proforma, on which, as a proof of implementation of above directions, signature of the taxpayer surveyed would be obtained. The said proforma, duly signed by the taxpayer,would be submitted back to the CIT,to be preserved as permanent record.

 

Transparency in tax survey operations: mandatory disclosure of supervisory contact details and signed recordkeeping to aid grievances. Survey teams must disclose names, designations and contact numbers of Chief Commissioner, Commissioner and Additional/Joint Commissioner to the taxpayer before commencing survey proceedings, inform the taxpayer of the right to contact those officers for grievances, carry a standard proforma in the survey kit, obtain the taxpayer's signature on that proforma as proof of implementation, and submit the signed proforma to the Commissioner of Income Tax for permanent preservation.