Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

27-April-2012 17:31 IST

Recovery of IT

The C&AG conducted performance audit of Recovery of Arrears of Tax Demand of the Income Tax Department and the report Number 23 of 2011-12 was laid on the table of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha on 16-12-2011.  In the report, the C&AG has identified weakening of certain control mechanism and non-adherence by the field formation to prescribed procedures in some cases and make observations/recommendations to further improve internal control mechanism and to monitor the recovery of Income Tax Arrears more effectively.  The observations/recommendations of the C&AG and the response of the Ministry thereto are included in the above-mentioned report of the C&AG.

The amount of certified demand left uncollected for the year 2009-10 and 2010-11 is as under: (as on 31.03-2011)

Year	No. of certificates	No. of defaulters	Amount (Rs. Lakhs)
2009-10	19,162	14,891	81,04,083
2010-11	22,025	15,489	5,35,123

Raising of demand and recovery of taxes is a continuous process which is affected by many factors due to which arrears are accumulated.  Some of the factors which lead to pendency of arrears are non-traceable assesses, assesses with inadequate or nil assets, assesses notified under Special Court  (Trial of offences relating to transaction in securities) Act, 1992, cases before BIFR, companies in liquidation etc.  The position of uncollected tax dues is monitored on regular basis in each case and the possibilities of collection are constantly evaluated.  Cases of large demand (Rs.10 crores and above) are also monitored at the level of CBDT on quarterly basis.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S. Palanimanickam in written reply to a question in Lok  Sabha today.

 

 

 

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DSM/SS/Hb

Recovery of tax arrears: audit found weakened control mechanisms and urged improved monitoring to enhance collection. The C&AG performance audit identified weakening of control mechanisms and non-adherence to procedures in recovery of income tax arrears, recommended steps to strengthen internal controls and monitoring, and recorded certified demand remaining uncollected. Impediments to collection include non-traceable taxpayers, inadequate or nil assets, prosecution under the Special Court Act, cases before insolvency or rehabilitation bodies, and companies in liquidation; the Ministry monitors dues, evaluates collection prospects, and subjects large-demand cases to higher-level oversight.