Pune, India, 18 July 2006: Armed with data from the Annual Information Return (AIR), the Income Tax Department is going to tighten its surveillance on defaulters. There are plans to map all this information on GIS and have an income tax map of Pune city. ‘‘This will enable us to compare the standard of living with the returns filed,’’ said J Suresh, Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Information Bureau.
The department is also in touch with Pune Municipal Corporation, cellular companies, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and various service providers for data on users.
‘‘Only 18,720 people have reported their income above Rs. 10 lakh in Pune, Thane, Nashik and western Maharashtra regions,’’ said Shiv Kumar Sharma, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax. This figure is a pointer towards the extent of under reporting and tax evasion in Pune region.
Besides the evaders, the department will also keep a close watch on the tax practitioners and property valuators who help people to evade the tax net. ‘‘Any unethical practice in their part will call for action. If we detect malpractices, they will be blacklisted and debarred from their practice subsequently,’’ Sharma warned.
