10 cr taxpayer base impossible to achieve: Revenue Secretary

Terming the 10 crore taxpayer base as only an "aspirational target", Union Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on Friday said "the target is impossible to achieve".

"Out of 25 crore households, 10 crore have non-agricultural income. It's impossible. All may not come under the tax net," Adhia said at a press briefing after the two-day conference of tax administrators concluded here on Friday.

"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) only said that we need to move towards expanding the tax base. He said there were 10 crore households but did not give any target," he added.

Modi had addressed the 'Gyan Sangam', a joint conference of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Central Board of Excise and Customs here on Thursday.

Terming the conference a success, Adhia said writer Chetan Bhagat and other outside experts addressed the tax administrators on how to change the taxpayer's perception.

Talking about the outcome of the conference, CBDT Chairman Atulesh Jindal said paperless scheme of e-mail communication would now be available in Hyderabad and Kolkata also.

"We had launched the pilot project of the paperless scheme in five cities last year. Now it will be applicable in seven cities," Jindal said.

For redressal of public grievances, the CBDT will launch an online platform 'e-nivaran' on a pilot basis in New Delhi within 2-3 weeks, he said.

--IANS

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