As part of Government’s policy to reduce tax litigations, the Central Board of Direct Taxes ( CBDT ) has directed the income tax department to withdraw all appeal cases, pertaining to certain monetary limits and parameters, from various courts by this month-end.
The Member (Revenue) has recently written a letter to all range heads and principal chief commissioners of the department to “conclude” the exercise of identification and closing of such cases by holding “personal meetings with senior officials of registry of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and High Courts so that the appeal withdrawal process is completed quickly”.
The CBDT is the upper body to frame a policy for the Income Tax Department.
The move assumes significance as the government would present the interim Budget for 2019-20 on February 1. The country will go for general elections post this, probably in the months of March-April.
Kumar, in her letter, added that “litigation management is one of the prime areas of focus of central government” as she pointed out that the had issued a detailed circular on this subject in July last year.