Tax practitioners to submit 10-point memorandum to government

The All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP), an umbrella organisation of advocates, chartered accountants and tax practitioners has prepared a ten-point agenda on various aspects of central and state taxation laws, which will be presented to the newly elected Union government, said K Shivaram, national president AIFTP said in Ahmedabad on Friday.

Ahmedabad will host the All India Conference on Taxation - 2004, a two day event, for the first time that begins on Saturday.

Over 400 tax practitioners, chartered accountants and advocates is expected to participate in the conference that will be held at Tagore Hall in the city. The theme for the conference this year will be "The role of professionals in building the nation," organisers said.

Shivaram told reporters here on Friday that the ten-point agenda contains issues related to stability in tax laws, accountability and transparency in tax administration, transparency in appointing members of Settlement Commission, bringing in a culture of tax service instead of tax collection, increasing voluntary tax compliance and a transparency in legislation by having a proper debate before bringing in legislation.

Other points, Shivaram said, that will be raised in the memorandum will be, initiating strict action against corrupt officials, speedy justice by clearing appeals within one year of being filed, setting up a research academy in taxation and providing more infrastructure to the judiciary, so that tax related matters can disposed faster.

"Besides, several other suggestions and grievances that come up during the deliberations over the next two days will also be incorporated in the memorandum," Shivaram added.

Ashwin Shah, president of the All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants said that the federation will oppose the proposed formation of the National Law Tribunal, as it amounts to the executive interference in the powers of the judiciary.

"There have been several cases where the judiciary has interfered in the functioning of the executive to ensure justice is done. Why should the executive interpret the law. That is a task of the judiciary," Shah clarified.

He added that by forming such commissions, executive members are invariably appointed on the board. "This defeats the very purpose why the judiciary has been set up. Instead, there could be a bench in each High Court dealing exclusively in the tax related matters," Shah said.

Shivaram added that there are already about 1.50 lakh cases pending in the Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal.