Since 2015, Income Tax Department had rolled out paperless Income Tax assessment across 7 Indian cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

Even the Income Tax Department hadn’t anticipated the response to this unique initiative.

In the last 2 years, there has been an increase of 78% in this paperless, digital IT assessment, which means that the method is now being preferred by tax payees.

Buoyed by the response, Govt. is planning to roll out this feature pan-India by the end of fiscal year 2017. Thus, starting from April, 2018, every taxpayee from all over India can use e-assessment facilities, and save time and resources.

But more important than that, it will curb corruption.

Govt.’s Anti-Corruption Move: Paperless IT Assessment

Earlier, tax-payers had to visit Income Tax offices, for clearing their filings, and approving their assessments via manual check.

Starting from October, 2015, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) introduced paperless assessment, in which the taxpayer has to submit multiple documents, which are verified and assessed online, by the IT Dept.

As per records shared by CBDT, this digital method of Income Tax assessment jumped from 1014 case in 2015-16 to 14,000 cases in 2016-17 fiscal year; and till July 31st this year, 4100 cases have already been completed, and 74,000 cases are pending.

This clearly showcases that taxpapers are increasingly becoming comfortable with this mode of IT assessment.

Overall, there has been a 78% jump, pan-India.

Recently, during the two-day two-day ‘Rajaswa Gyan Sangam’ conference (national meeting of top tax officers of the country), PM Modi encouraged tax officials to push for digital IT assessment method, which will save the tax-payers time, and remove corruption from the system.

Push For Digital Income Tax Assessment

Right now, there is a scrutiny process in place, which verifies the submissions via backend channel, and approves.

There are some ‘bottlenecks’ related to “logistical and minor policy issues” in this scrutiny process, which is causing some delays from the IT Dept. end.

CBDT is trying to flush out these bottlenecks, and creating a seamless process, after which the system can be implemented pan-India.

Besides, IT Dept. will unleash a major awareness campaign as well, to make people aware of this new system.

CBDT, in their internal communications, have said, IT officials “be encouraged to maximise e–assessment in a phased manner and to ensure that work be completed online so that there is complete transparency.”

However, even after the roll out pan-India, the taxpayer will have the option to either complete assessment online or manually visit the IT office for the same.

We will keep you updated as we receive more information on this update.