Tamil Nadu - Chennai

IT Ombudsman takes charge

CHENNAI: Chief Commissioner of Income Tax G. Muthuramakrishnan on Monday took charge as Income Tax Ombudsman for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

After the Income Tax Ombudsman guidelines were published in 2006, Mr. Muthuramakrishnan becomes the first officer to hold the post, which lay vacant for nearly 14 months.

His tenure is for two years, and he will report to the Revenue Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

“As the IT Ombudsman, my priority is to redress taxpayers’ grievances within 30 days. Currently, the department has over 300 complaints, and most of them pertain to delay in issue of refund orders. My job is to make the IT officers perform. I can also question them why action was not initiated in a particular case and take them to task in case of rude behaviour,” he told The Hindu.

The IT Ombudsman has been tasked with identifying issues that increase the compliance burden or create problems for taxpayers and bring them to the notice of the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Ministry of Finance.

“If the taxpayer does not get the refund within six months from the date of filing returns, he can approach me. But prior to that, he should meet the IT officer concerned. During this year too, there has been a delay in issue of refund orders. It is largely due to non-receipt of software, and it [the problem] will be solved soon,” Mr. Muthuramakrishnan said.

Issues pertaining to delay in disposal of cases of interest waiver, applications for rectification and appellate orders can be brought to the notice of the Ombudsman. Taxpayers have been requested to suggest ways and means of reducing the compliance cost and protecting of their rights, either in writing or through email ( ombudsman_it@dataone.in).

The guidelines setting forth the powers and responsibilities of the Ombudsman can be obtained from www.incometaxindia.gov.in The office is located on the third floor of Aayakar Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi Road.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu