Outstanding tax demand up at Rs 5.75 lakh cr in FY'14

The outstanding direct tax demand increased to Rs 5.75 lakh crore in 2013-14, up 18.33 per cent over the previous fiscal, the government said today.
The outstanding demand pending collection/recovery at the end of 2013-14 fiscal was Rs 5,75,340 crore, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The outstanding demand was Rs 4,86,180 crore in 2012-13, and Rs 4,08,418 crore in the year before.
On the indirect tax front, the uncollected arrears in 2013-14 were over 1.49 lakh crore and Rs 1.09 lakh crore.
The minister said that as far as direct taxes are concerned, raising of demand and collection/recovery of outstanding dues is a continuous process.

However, the outstanding demand may not be collected or recovered due to various reasons like assessee-in-default being not traceable or having no assets.
In the case of indirect tax, reasons for not collecting these dues include assessees having moved BIFR and some of them being unable to pay on account of financial difficulties or lack of resources.
To another question, Sinha said steps are being taken to introduce "Braille-like" signs on currency notes within the current financial year. Announcement in this regard was made in the Budget.