Govt open to suggestions for better implementation of Vivad Se Vishwas scheme: CBDT chief

The government is open to suggestions from stakeholders for better implementation of the direct tax 'Vivad Se Vishwas' scheme, Central Board of Direct Taxes Chairman P C Mody said on Monday.

The government has launched the Vivad Se Vishwas scheme for resolution of pending litigation by paying only the disputed tax amount.

As many as 4.83 lakh direct tax cases involving Rs 9.32 lakh crore in disputed taxes are locked in various appellate forums. The amount is equivalent to 82 per cent of the government's direct tax revenue in FY19.

Addressing a video conference organised by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on the Vivad Se Vishwas scheme,Modysaid that no scheme could be conceived with all the perfections, so also could be this scheme, and therefore, he assured that the government and the Board are open for suggestions and comments from every stakeholder for better implementation of the scheme in its letter and spirit.

An official statement issued after the meeting saidITAT President Justice P P Bhatt also encouraged stakeholders to avail the scheme so as to reduce pending tax litigation.

"He (Bhatt) urged the stakeholders, more particularly, the tax practitioners to take the task further in a mission mode, so that the system that is choked with the avoidable litigation could be relieved for concentrating on more meritorious issues, which have a bearing on the tax policies affecting the taxpayers on a large scale," the statement said.

In cases where taxpayer's appeals are pending before appellate forums, High Courts and the Supreme Court, the taxpayer will have the option to settle the dispute on payment of 100 per cent tax (125 per cent in search cases) and get complete waiver on interest and penalty if he pays by June 30.

Further, where arrears are related to disputed interest or penalty only, 25 per cent of disputed penalty or interest will have to be paid if the payment is made by June 30.

The scheme will cover appeals pending before the appellate forum [Commissioner (Appeals), ITAT, High Court or the Supreme Court], and writ petitions pending before High Court or the Supreme Court or special leave petitions (SLPs) pending before the Supreme Court as on January 31, 2020.

The scheme can also be availed in cases of search and seizure operations where the cumulative recovery is less than Rs 5 crore, and also those which are pending arbitration, but would not cover those cases where the dispute is under the foreign black money act, benami property act and PMLA, among others.