Will use IT to bring transparency in tax department: Adhia

On tax cases impacting investments, Adhia says he will ensure investments are not delayed

Simplification of tax rules and procedures and promoting transparency through the use of information technology will be the top priority for newly appointed Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia.
 

“My top priority would be to bring transparency in the tax department by use of IT and removing complexity of rules and procedure,” said the 1981-batch Gujarat cadre officer at a press briefing on Tuesday.
 

Adhia, who was secretary in the department of financial services (DFS), has taken charge of the revenue department at a time when the government is grappling to find support for the passage of the goods and services tax (GST) legislation in Rajya Sabha.
 

“Will review the status of GST readiness of central government and state governments,” said Adhia, emphasising on administrative preparedness of the government to implement the composite indirect tax law.
 

The non-passage of the constitution amendment Bill for GST in Parliament has turned out to be a major setback for the NDA government’s reform process, hitting investors' sentiments.
 

On the issue of tax cases impacting investments, Adhia said he would ensure investments are not delayed. “We will do whatever is just and proper in taxation cases... identifying bad elements in tax department and taking care of them will be a priority,” said the new revenue secretary.

Regarding the government’s decision on the imposition of minimum alternate tax (MAT) on foreign institutional investors (FIIs), Adhia said, “Will review the issue of MAT on FIIs.”
 

The government has taken a position based on the recommendations by the Justice AP Shah committee that FIIs be granted relief on MAT for the period before April 1, 2015.