Shopian: Income Tax Department in collaboration with district administration Shopian on Wednesday organised a Tax Awareness Program at Shopian. The team of officers and officials of Income Tax led by Shakil Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner Income Tax Srinagar visited Shopian and held the interactive sessions with the local taxpayers, DDOs and other employees of the district.
The aim of the programme was to sensitise DDOs and tax payers about the different provisions of the Income Tax Act and to highlight the role of the DDOs in tax deduction.
Through PowerPoint presentation and lectures by speakers including Sumit Kumar, Income Tax Officer, Karamvir, Income Tax Officer and Sarfaraz Ahmad Bhat State Taxes Officer Shopian, important aspects of Income Tax Act, including filling of timely ITRs, computation of Income Tax, exceptions and inclusion of other incomes, besides salaries in ITR were deliberated upon for the audience and stressed upon for adherence.
The awareness camp was attended by various district officers, DDOs, dealing assistants, employees and the members of business fraternity. The DDOs were apprised about the importance of TDS, the filing of TDS return, the importance of the tax regime and their roles and responsibilities under the Act.
DC Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb also attended the awareness programme as Chief Guest and emphasised upon all to take benefit of the sessions as to fulfill their financial duties while also highlighting the role of taxes for the socio economic development of the Nation.
Shakil Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner, Income Tax, Srinagar while addressing the session delved upon the role of Income Tax department in the development of the country and the legal responsibility of the timely filling of returns by DDOs and individual tax payers. Shakil also highlighted the people friendly approach of the Tax administration based on right use of technology enabling better interface with the taxpayers and also effective and timely redressal of grievances.
The matter of refund claims filed by the taxpayers especially the salaried employees was also deliberated upon and participants were made aware of the legal consequences of wrong claim of deductions and hence exhorted to be cautious and scrupulous in filing the ITRs to avoid any penalties. The taxpayers were also made aware about the provision of filing of Updated Returns (ITR-U) that can be filed to correct any mistakes and avoid any future legal consequences.
A session was separately held with traders and businessmen of the district that led to a focused and fruitful discussion on the broader aspect of the income Act.
Multiple Queries of participants were also addressed through the lively interaction resulting in building a two way interface between people and the department.
In the program the office bearers of various trade Associations while appreciating the awareness program impressed upon the need to raise awareness among the grassroots level businessmen especially the commission agents working at fruit mandi Shopian.

KR Desk