Early Times Report
Jammu, June 4: Tax authorities have intensified scrutiny of taxpayers in Kashmir who received Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) payments but failed to file Income Tax Returns (ITRs), amid a broader drive to strengthen tax compliance and curb revenue leakages.
Officials said taxpayers who earn income subject to TDS but do not file returns could face scrutiny, penalties, and higher tax liabilities in the future. The Income Tax Department monitors such cases through automated systems, including data available through TRACES and Form 26AS.
The development comes amid ongoing efforts to identify tax irregularities in Jammu and Kashmir. The Income Tax Department had earlier flagged a significant number of salaried taxpayers and government employees in the Union Territory for allegedly claiming excessive or ineligible deductions and refunds, prompting intensified compliance checks.
The issue figured prominently during a review meeting chaired by Commissioner, State Taxes Department, P.K. Bhat, to assess tax compliance, enforcement measures, and revenue monitoring across the Kashmir Division.
The meeting was attended by Additional Commissioner, State Taxes Kashmir, Parveez Ahmad Raina, and officers from various State Taxes circles across the Valley.
During the review, the Commissioner examined action taken on cases identified through BISAG, audit observations, and the status of demand raised and recovered for the 2021-22 financial year. He also reviewed measures initiated against non-filers, taxpayers who received TDS payments but did not file returns, scrutiny cases for 2022-23, credit-flow verification, and follow-up action on departmental notices.
The meeting further assessed action against taxpayers whose registrations had been cancelled, as well as cases involving taxpayers who filed GSTR-1 returns and passed on input tax credit but failed to file GSTR-3B returns.
Bhat directed officers to pay special attention to circles with a significant presence of hotels and tourism-related businesses in view of the resurgence in tourist activity. He stressed the need to prevent revenue leakages and ensure strict tax compliance across the sector.
Emphasising the use of technology-driven monitoring, the Commissioner called for greater utilisation of platforms such as PRIME, BISAG and BIFA to detect irregularities, prevent fraud, and strengthen enforcement. He said the department should continue to enhance compliance mechanisms while maintaining a balance between taxpayer facilitation and accountability.
Officials said the compliance drive would continue across the Kashmir Division as part of ongoing efforts to improve revenue collection and ensure adherence to tax laws. |