



Tax dodgers beware: I-T is searching GST data to widen tax base
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Income Tax department may soon start drilling into goods and services tax (GST) data in an effort to widen India's direct tax base and improve compliance, two people familiar with the plans said. The idea is to tap into the indirect tax system's technological prowess and data trove, which are widely credited with encouraging the informal sector to join the formal economy.
The I-T department's move to expand the country's direct tax base and boost tax buoyancy comes after the sharp tax rate cuts for individuals this financial year moderated I-T revenue growth, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. The GST system involves extensive data collection at every stage of the production value chain, as well as in goods transport and real-time reporting of wholesale transactions on a designated portal. This has helped the authorities crack down on large-scale invoicing scams.
Tapping into this wealth of information is expected to help the I-T department enhance voluntary compliance. The department is increasingly using its ‘nudge’ approach—telling assessees what the department already knows about under-reported income and giving them the opportunity to revise or update tax returns and come clean—to enhance compliance. “Revenue collection is the product of efficient tax administration and the department’s ability to reach out to the relevant assessees.
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