Date:31/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/31/stories/2006033117960300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Income tax collection in TN region up

T.S. Shankar

It has recorded a collection of Rs. 10,302 crore

CHENNAI: Officials at the Chennai Income Tax Office and the Investigation Wing are a happy lot. For, the Tamil Nadu region has recorded an impressive tax collection of Rs. 10,302 crore. Also, it has topped other offices in the country by seizing a total of Rs. 43 crore in evaded tax.

"The record collection of taxes is through corporate tax, wealth tax, fringe benefit tax, and other taxes. Also, strict enforcement and searches and surveys have yielded fruitful results," said Santosh Kumar Datta, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Director General of Income Tax (Investigation).

Against a target of Rs. 11,400 crore, Rs. 10,302 crore had been collected as on March 29. In March 2005, the Department had collected Rs. 8,300 crore. Going by the collections raked up on Thursday and with one more day remaining, the Department in Tamil Nadu region could feel really happy about the collections. He pointed out that the Department in Tamil Nadu region had collection Rs.8,300 crore in March 2005

The Department, Mr. Datta said, had carried out record seizures of cash through searches (netting Rs. 43 crore made till February 28) as against the Rs. 26 crore seized in 2003-04.

Urging the people to pay up their taxes promptly and file their IT returns honestly, Mr.Datta said the slogan of the Department was "Catch up with your tax before the Taxmen catches up"