JOIN USInfosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Saturday batted for higher income tax slab and said the current personal tax slab has to be increased by 10 per cent.
The additional revenue generated by increasing the tax slab can be used for improving basic amenities such as education and health, he said, after inaugurating the three-day “Special Return Receipt Counters” organised by the Income Tax department at Palace Grounds here to help salaried employees and senior citizens file returns.
Murthy said it is appreciable that about 35 per cent of the country’s population are tax payers. The footfall at the event was good even on a weekend noon. Mostly senior citizens headed to the venue. It was also a one-stop destination for the others as they could have PAN allotment, paper distribution, make financial transactions and also file their returns, all in one place. Just as the event was inaugurated, 950 papers were on the tables.
Jayaram Raipura, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, said there were over 12,500 paper returns last year and that the numbers were expected to come down this time around. “The government has made it mandatory for those having income of above Rs five lakh, with refunds, to only file the e-returns. Those having total income below Rs five lakh and without any refund claim have an option to either do it manually or file it online,” he added.
Total 36 receipt counters, 12 help desks, 10 e-filing counters, 6 PAN verification counters and 8 Tax Return Preparers counters have been set up. Tax payers must take along with them their PAN card, bank details, mail ID, mobile number, forms 16 or 26AS and investment details of any alternative income.
DH News Service