Salaried taxpayers to get SMS alert on TDS

Arun Jaitley has launched the service. Central Board of Direct Taxes or CBDT will soon offer this facility on a monthly basis

The income-tax department will now send SMSes to salaried taxpayers on their tax deducted at source or TDS. 

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday launched the service. Central Board of Direct Taxes or CBDT will soon offer this facility on a monthly basis.

Jaitley said the salaried class cannot afford to pay tax twice or indulge in litigation; hence they should be updated on TDS.

"So, they can match the office salary slip and the SMS and at the end of the financial year be clear about any possible tax dues," Jaitley said.

He asked CBDT to take grievance redressal system for TDS mismatch online. Jaitley said e-Nivaran is working well for taxpayers and CBDT is taking several taxpayer-friendly initiatives.

CBDT will soon extend this SMS facility to another 44 million non-salaried taxpayers. "The frequency of SMS alerts will be increased, once the process for filing TDS returns is streamlined to receive such information in real time," CBDT said.

CBDT Chairperson Rani Singh Nair said the tax department is encouraging people to register their mobile number on the electronic-filing website.

She said taxpayers will initially receive a welcome message from CBDT informing them about the facility; after that, each assessee would be sent messages informing them about their TDS.

In case of a mismatch, they can contact their deductor for necessary correction.

 

Besides, SMS alerts will also be sent to deductors who have either failed to deposit taxes deducted or failed to e-file TDS returns by the due date.