The Union Finance Minister reiterates fair, efficient, transparent and taxpayer-centric administration

Income-tax Act, 2025 and new rules and forms mark landmark reforms towards simpler and taxpayer-friendly tax system: Revenue Secretary Shri Arvind Shrivastava

CBDT Chairman Ravi Agarwal highlights progress in faster return processing, grievance redressal and litigation reduction

CBDT advances technology-led tax administration through PAN 2.0, ITBA 2.0, IEC 3.0 and SAKSHAM NUDGE

FM Smt. Sitharaman releases six publications highlighting India's growing leadership in international taxation and taxpayer-centric governance

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 167^th anniversary of Income Tax Day celebrations by Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in New Delhi.

Shri Arvind Srivastava, Secretary, D/o Revenue; Shri Ravi Agrawal, Chairman, CBDT; Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, CBIC: Members of CBDT and CBIC and other senior officers and officials of the Department were present on the occasion.

Addressing the 167th Income Tax Day celebrations, Union Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman emphasised that the role of the Income Tax Department has evolved from tax collection to building a fair, efficient, transparent and taxpayer-centric tax administration. She described the implementation of the Income-tax Act, 2025 as a landmark reform that has simplified the law, reduced compliance costs and strengthened ease of doing business. She also highlighted the enhanced capacity of the e-Filing portal, improved return processing, prompt refunds and significant progress in grievance redressal, while stressing that the Department must move beyond disposal of grievances to analysing recurring issues and preventing them through systemic improvements. She outlined the 5Rs of Responsive Tax Governance - Recognise, Respond, Redress, Reflect and Reform, as guiding principles for taxpayer service, emphasising that honest taxpayers should experience convenience, opportunities to correct bona fide errors and a tax administration that exercises its authority with humility. Stressing that taxpayers are partners in India's development, she called for a continued focus on reducing litigation by strengthening tax certainty.

FM Smt. Sitharaman also underlined the importance of strengthening institutional capacity through modern infrastructure, technology and continuous investment in human capital. She appreciated the progress made in upgrading offices and welfare facilities and called for greater capacity building in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, forensic accounting, international taxation, transfer pricing, digital assets, cybersecurity and leadership development. She urged the Department to deepen voluntary compliance, further simplify the taxpayer experience, strengthen tax certainty, harness technology responsibly, build institutional excellence, reinforce public trust and embrace continuous improvement. Congratulating the officers and staff of the Income Tax Department on the occasion of the 167th Income Tax Day, she expressed confidence that the Department would continue to play a pivotal role in promoting ease of doing business, strengthening taxpayer confidence and supporting India's economic growth.

In his address on the occasion, Shri Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary, D/o Revenue, Ministry of Finance, extended his greetings to the officers and officials of the Income Tax Department and described the implementation of the Income-tax Act, 2025 and the new Income-tax Rules and Forms as landmark reforms towards a simpler, clearer and more taxpayer-friendly tax system, and appreciated the Department's efforts in strengthening taxpayer outreach, grievance redressal, litigation management and technology-driven service delivery. Emphasising the need to leverage technology while keeping taxpayers at the centre of reforms, he called for continued focus on ease of compliance, tax certainty, quality service delivery and innovation, and expressed confidence that the Department would continue to strengthen public trust and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Welcoming the dignitaries on behalf of the Income Tax Department, Shri Ravi Agrawal, recalled the priorities set out by the Union Finance Minister during the previous Income Tax Day celebrations and the expectations articulated at the PRARAMBH programme earlier this year, he outlined the Department's progress over the past year in translating those directions into measurable outcomes. He highlighted the Department's sustained efforts towards reducing litigation, faster disposal of appeals and enhancing tax certainty through Advance Pricing Agreements.

He also noted the achievements in the areas of expeditious return processing, appeal-effect orders and refunds, and strengthening grievance redressal. He further highlighted the Department's achievements in expanding taxpayer outreach through initiatives such as PRARAMBH and Samvaad. He also underscored the Department's continued focus on leveraging technology through initiatives such as PAN 2.0, ITBA 2.0, IEC 3.0, Kar Saathi and the SAKSHAM NUDGE framework to simplify compliance, improve taxpayer experience and strengthen voluntary compliance. He expressed his appreciation to all CBDT verticals, including the Exemptions vertical, and the officers involved in framing the Rules and Forms under the Income-tax Act, 2025. Expressing gratitude for the continued guidance and support of the Hon'ble Finance Minister, he reaffirmed the Department's commitment to building a fair, transparent and trusted tax administration through innovation, collaboration and citizen-centric governance.

The Union Finance Minister also released six flagship publications of the Income Tax Department, reflecting its continued commitment to knowledge sharing, capacity building, transparency and taxpayer-centric governance. These included:

• Avlokan, the inaugural Annual Report of the FT&TR Division highlighting India's growing leadership in international taxation;
• The Manual on Exchange of Information; the updated Guidance Note on FATCA & CRS;
• India's first comprehensive Guidance Note on Crypto Asset Reporting Obligations for Crypto-Asset Service Providers;
• The Annual Report of the APA Programme, showcasing the programme's progress; and
• Re-engineering Tax Governance, tracing the Department's journey of transformation from paper-based processes to an integrated, technology-driven and taxpayer-centric digital ecosystem.

Four short films showcasing the history of taxation, the Karmyogi Shiksha Path Portal, achievements of Income-Tax department in FY 2025-26 and the reimagining of taxpayer communication in the digital age were also screened during the event.

The function ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Smt. G. Aparna Rao, Member, CBDT. She thanked the Union Finance Minister for gracing the occasion and inspiring the Department with her words of wisdom. She also thanked all the other dignitaries present on the occasion. She also thanked the media and organisers of the event.

Tax certainty and taxpayer-centric administration drive simplified compliance, reduced litigation, digital service delivery, and stronger voluntary tax compliance. Tax administration reform under the Income-tax Act, 2025, rules and forms is directed toward a simpler, transparent and taxpayer-centric system. Key priorities include reducing compliance costs and litigation through tax certainty, faster return processing, refunds, grievance redressal, voluntary compliance and timely appeal disposal. Digital initiatives, including PAN 2.0, ITBA 2.0, IEC 3.0, Kar Saathi and SAKSHAM NUDGE, are intended to simplify compliance and improve taxpayer experience. Capacity building in technology, international taxation, transfer pricing, digital assets and cybersecurity supports this reform agenda.