Date:01/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/01/stories/2006030102490200.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Moving towards a new tax regimen

The job of a taxman, many would agree, is certainly not an enviable one. So when M.R. Narayanan, president, Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged the services rendered by tax officials, it signalled a change of times. The occasion was `Central Excise Day celebrations' at the Office of Excise and Customs in the city recently. Mr. Narayanan said that over the years the department has become very user friendly. "Gone are the days when we looked at you with suspicion; today the tax department is viewed as a part of the business community. You are our partners in growth."

According to him, the percentage of taxes collected has come down over the years. "This will lead to better tax payment."

S.K.