I-T dept to go green; requests FM to announce step in Budget

The Income Tax department will request Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to accept its proposal to phase out paper-based documentation to ensure prompt taxpayer-related services and in the process earn carbon credits.

The Income Tax department will request Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to accept its proposal to phase out paper-based documentation to ensure prompt taxpayer-related services and in the process earn carbon credits.

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The department will soon suggest Mukherjee to announce the proposal, framed by its special working group, in his Budget speech on February 26.

Sources said the proposal is being included in the Vision-2020 document of the department -- a ten-year prospective road map for its functioning -- as with this initiative the department can reduce and stop paper based services saving the environment and providing fast computer-based services to taxpayers.

"More than sixteen taxpayer services, including filing of tax returns, can be made hundred per cent paperless. The proposal to go green will be included in the Vision document 2020 and would be presented to the Finance Minister so that it could be included in his budget speech," sources involved in the process said.

A number of services like tax filing and PAN card registration can be done on the internet and the new Citizens Charter will enhance and introduce technology based services in the department.