Targeting taxpayers

Tax department should not issue notices indiscriminately

The latest dispute between the Income-Tax Department and some assessees is a good example of the difference between the intent and implementation of reform measures. Several individuals and firms have filed petitions in various courts challenging the tax notices issued during the April-June period. The law was amended earlier in the year, and allowed tax assessments to be ordinarily reopened for the previous three years. In cases of serious fraud and concealment of income of more than Rs 50 lakh, assessments can go back 10 years. However, the income-tax department extended the validity of the old law till June 30,