New Delhi: (CBDT and CBIT & Customs News) Ministry of Finance clarified on Monday that the news carried by national dailies about the Government considering proposal to merge the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs is factually incorrect. The Government has no proposal to merge the CBDT and CBIT & Customs Boards created under the Central Boards of Revenue Act, 1963. "The news item has been published without due verification of facts from the competent authorities of the Ministry of Finance. This may create a policy distraction when the Ministry is amidst the implementation of a large number of taxpayers' friendly reforms like the transition from a manual assessment based on territorial jurisdiction to a completely randomized electronic faceless assessment, electronic verification or transactions and faceless appeals" a press statement issued by the ministry mentioned.
"The news creates a policy distraction when the Ministry is amidst the implementation of a large number of taxpayers' friendly reforms like the transition from a manual assessment based on territorial jurisdiction to a completely randomized electronic faceless assessment, electronic verification or transactions and faceless appeals"- Ministry of Finance
"As pointed out in the report, the said merger was one of the recommendations of the Tax Administrative Reforms Commission (TARC). The report of TARC was examined in detail by the Government and this recommendation of TARC was not accepted by the Government" it said. "As a part on an assurance made by the Government in the Parliament in response to a Parliament question, the Government has also placed this fact in 2018 before the Committee on Government Assurances. The action taken report on the recommendations of the TARC is placed even on the website of the Department of Revenue, which clearly shows that this recommendation was not accepted" the FinMin statement added.
"It is evident that this misleading article has been published with no due diligence of even checking official records placed in the public domain or checking the latest status with relevant competent authorities in the Ministry of Finance," the ministry said. "It not only reflects poorly on the quality of journalism but also shows a complete disregard for due diligence. If such an unverified story is given a front-page lead story position, it should be a concern for all news-reading public. This news item is completely rejected as baseless and unverified" the ministry's press release concluded.
"It is evident that this misleading article has been published with no due diligence of even checking official records placed in the public domain or checking the latest status with relevant competent authorities in the Ministry of Finance- FinMin Statement
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