Interim Budget 2019: Using technology to increase tax base and reduce rates

With electronic filings and tax administrations in India, there has been a fundamental shift from quantity to quality

In the Interim Budget 2019 speech, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has reiterated the government's aim to continue technology-led tax reforms.

Technology to increase tax base and reduce rates

The use of technology is the only sustainable measure to increase tax compliance, tax base and eventually, tax collections. It is only when the government has reasonable surety of tax collections, can it take the steps to reduce tax rates and lower the burden on existing tax payer base.  

According to government data sources, FY18 saw a 26 per cent rise in the number of income tax returns filed compared to last