Tax collection is neither a simple nor popular task - President

By Vijay Kumar

ADDRESSING the outgoing probationers in the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) at Nagpur yesterday, the President Pranab Mukherjee told the probationers, "Tax collection is neither a simple nor popular task. Tax collectors should be conscious of the rights and duties of citizens. The taxpayer should be seen as an important partner in generating revenue for all our national endeavours. It is the tax they provide which funds welfare schemes, helps maintain law and order, protect our borders etc. Many empires have collapsed in the past because Governments did not have money to pay their soldiers."

Recalling his association with NADT, the President said, "I have had decades of association with the department from my days as MOS in Finance Ministry in the 70`s. I have visited National Academy of Direct taxes (NADT), on a number of occasions. I am therefore witness to the evolution and growth of this premier academy."

The former Finance Minister told the probationers, "You will find it interesting to know that the collection of direct taxes in 1860-61 was just Rs. 30 lakhs. In contrast, the revised target for 2012-13 was Rs. 5,65,835 crores. As per the budget estimates for the direct taxes for the year 2013-14, the direct tax collection is likely to be around Rs. 6 lakh 68 thousand crore, which is around 54 percent of the gross tax revenue receipts of the Central Government. Not only has there been a quantum increase in the collection of direct taxes, but it now accounts for the majority of tax collections. Direct taxes are anti inflationary compared to indirect taxes. They are still below the target we want to reach but the rise to over 50 percent of revenue is a positive feature."

He finally told the probationers, The Government depends on you to collect taxes from the people in an efficient manner.

The probationers must have been textually abused and harassed in the Academy and now they face the real bad world of taxation.