A joint Tax Awareness Programme was conducted in Shopian, organized by the Shopian District administration in collaboration with the Income Tax Department.
A team of officers and officials from the Income Tax Department, led by Shakil Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Srinagar, visited Shopian to interact with local taxpayers, Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), and other district employees.
The program’s primary objective was to educate DDOs and taxpayers about the various provisions of the Income Tax Act and emphasize the role of DDOs in tax deductions.
The taxpayers received insights through PowerPoint presentations and lectures by speakers including Sumit Kumar, Income Tax Officer, Karamvir, Income Tax Officer, and Sarfaraz Ahmad Bhat State Taxes Officer Shopian on important aspects of the Income Tax Act, such as the timely filing of Income Tax Returns (ITRs), computation of Income Tax, exceptions, the inclusion of other incomes along with salaries in ITRs, and the significance of adherence to these guidelines.
The awareness camp witnessed the presence of district officers, DDOs, dealing assistants, employees, and business community members.
DDOs were informed about the importance of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), filing TDS returns, and their roles and responsibilities under the Act.
Faz Lul Haseeb, DC Shopian, attended the program as the Chief Guest and emphasized the importance of fulfilling financial duties while highlighting the role of taxes in the nation’s socio-economic development.
Shakil Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner, Income Tax, Srinagar, discussed the role of the Income Tax Department in the country’s development and stressed the legal responsibility of DDOs and individual taxpayers to file returns on time.
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The session also addressed refund claims filed by taxpayers, particularly salaried employees, and participants were made aware of the potential legal consequences of incorrect deductions. They were urged to exercise caution and scrupulousness when submitting their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) to avoid penalties. They were also educated about the option of filing Updated Returns (ITR-U) to correct any errors and avoid potential legal repercussions in the future.
A separate session was held with traders and businessmen in the district, leading to focused and fruitful discussions on the broader aspects of the Income Tax Act.