Get ready, taxpayers! The Income Tax Department is rolling out a nationwide offensive targeting around 40,000 individuals and businesses who’ve skipped depositing their Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) or Tax Collected at Source (TCS). With a sharp 16-point playbook from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), officials are tapping data analytics to hunt down defaulters using tax records from FY22-23 and FY23-24.
Smart Enforcement, Subtle Approach
This isn’t a loud raid—it’s a quiet, calculated move. The department’s keeping it non-intrusive, tracking patterns and irregularities without causing a stir. Expect scrutiny on repeat offenders, cases with glaring gaps between deductions and advance payments, and firms fudging deductee details or leaning on unprofitable units to dodge accountability.
Key Targets and Tactics
Field officers are on the case, guided by deductee complaints and analytics to spot TDS payment trends. They’ll zero in on cases flagged under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act—where deductions get axed if TDS isn’t paid up. Multiple TDS return tweaks with slashed default amounts? That’s a red flag too.
Balancing Relief and Rigor
Recent budget tweaks have lightened TDS/TCS rules for honest filers, cutting rates and thresholds. But deliberate dodgers? They’re in for a tough ride. “It’s a fair mix—easing up for the compliant, cracking down on the willful,” an official noted, signaling a push for an equitable tax system.
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