Tax dispute resolution window has few takers

Govt is targeting a 14.3 per cent growth in direct taxes for current financial year

Barely four per cent of direct tax litigation cases pending with the income tax department came under the Dispute Resolution Scheme (DRS) of 2016, with total taxes to the tune of Rs1,250 crore. 

Extension of the scheme by a month till January 31 failed to elicit much response, resulting in 10,500 applications under the scheme making up for only two per cent of the disputed amount at the level of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals).

Among the total applications, the government has received Rs250 crore so far from the orders passed in 4,100 cases. The applicants will get about