In a unique move, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her speech while presenting the Union Budget of 2020, has announced the formation of a ‘tax payers’ charter.
Announcing the scheme, the Minister said that:
“the country respects the tax payers and wealth creators”.
The charter will be prepared by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and is expected to be released soon.
It is expected that the charter will list out some of the rights that a tax payer can expect to avail. Some of these rights may include the:
1. Right to expect a dignified treatment from the officials (right to dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian constitution),
2. Right to objective assessment of tax returns,
3. Right to be heard,
4. Right to awareness and
5. Right to judicial remedies.
This will put India in the elite list of nations that have formed the tax payers charter. The Finance Minister has said during a press conference that, so far only US, Canada and Australia have this charter till date.
Last year, saw a slew of complaints by private business houses and tax payers of continuous harassment by the tax department. This is expected to tackle this major issue.