Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Important events affecting the administrative set up in the Income-tax department:

Year  
1939 Appellate functions separated from inspecting functions.

A class of officers known as AACs came into existence.

Jurisdiction of Commissioners of Income tax extended to certain classes of cases and a central charge was created at Bombay.

1940 Directorate of Inspection (Income-tax) came into being.

Excess Profits Tax introduced w.e.f. 1-9-1939.

1941 Income-tax Appellate Tribunal came into existence.

central charge created at Calcutta. 

1943 Special Investigation Branches set up. 
1946 A few officers of Class-I directly recruited.

Demonetisation of high denomination notes made.

Excess Profits Tax Act repealed.

1947 Business Profits Tax enacted (for the period 1-4-1946 to 31-3-1949).
1951 Report of Income-tax Investigation Commission known as Vardhachari Commission received.

Voluntary Disclosure Scheme introduced. 

1952 Directorate of Inspection (Investigation) set up.

Inspector of Income-tax declared as an I.T. authority.

1953 Estate Duty Act, 1953 came into existence w.e.f. 15-10-1953.

Act XXV of 1953 gave effect to the recommendations of Commission appointed under Taxation of Income (Investigation Commission) Act, 1947.

1954 Internal Audit Scheme in the Income-tax Department introduced.

Taxation Enquiry Commission known as John Mathai Commission set up.

1957 The Wealth tax Act, 1957 introduced w.e.f. 1-4-1957.

I.R.S.(DT) Staff College started functioning at Nagpur and much later four R.T.Is . stationed at Bombay, Calcutta, Bangalore and Lucknow opened.

1958 The Gift-tax Act, 1958 introduced w.e.f. 1-4-1958.

Report of Law Commission received.

1959 Direct Taxes Administration Enquiry Committee submitted its report.
1960 Directorate of Inspection (Research, Statistics & Publications)was set up.

Two grades of Inspectors - selection and ordinary grades - merged into one single grade. 

1961 Direct Taxes Advisory Committee set up - Direct Taxes Administrative Enquiry Committee constituted.

Income-tax Act, 1961 came into existence w.e.f. 1-4-1962.

Revenue Audit introduced for the first time in the Department.

New system for evaluation of work done by Income-tax Officers introduced.

1963

&

1964

Central Board of Revenue bifurcated and a separate Board for Direct Taxes known as Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)constituted under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.

For the first time an officer from the department became Chairman of the CBDT w.e.f. 1-1-1964.

The Companies (Profits) Sur -tax Act, 1964 was introduced.

Annuity Deposit Scheme, 1964 introduced.

1965 Voluntary Disclosure Scheme came into operation.
1966 Functional Scheme introduced.

Special Recovery Unit created.

Intelligence Wing created and placed under the charge of Directorate of Inspection (Investigation).

1968 Valuation Cell came into existence in the Income tax Department.

Report of rationalisation and simplification of tax structure (Bhoothalingam Committee) received.

Administrative Reforms Commission set up.

1969 Direct Recruitment to Class II Income-tax Officers made.

The post of IAC (Audit) created in the Income-tax Department.

1970 The posts of Addl. Commissioner of Income-tax created and abolished after one year.

Recovery functions which were hitherto performed by Income- tax Officers, given to Tax Recovery Officers. Prior to that State Government officials exercised the functions of a Tax Recovery Officer. 

1971 A new cadre of posts known as Tax Recovery Commissioners introduced w.e.f. 1.1. 1972.

Report of Direct Taxes Enquiry Committee received.

Summary Assessment Scheme introduced w.e.f. 1-4-1971.

1972 A Special Cell within the Directorate of Inspection (Investigation) created to oversee the cases of big industrial houses.

A new cadre of posts known as IAC(Acq.) created and IAC appointed as Competent Authority with the insertion of new Chapter XXA in the Income Tax Act, 1961 on the acquisition of immovable properties in certain cases of transfer to counter evasion of tax.

Directorate of Organisation & Management Services (Income- tax) created.

The post of I.T.O. (Internal Audit) created.

Bradma Scheme in the Income-tax Department introduced.

System of Permanent Account Number introduced.

Valuation Officers given statutory powers under the Income-tax Act, 1961 and Wealth-tax Act, 1957.

1974 Compulsory Deposit Scheme (Income-tax Payers) Act, 1974 introduced.

Action Plan for the Income-tax Officers introduced for the first time.

Concept of M.B.O introduced.

1975 Voluntary Disclosure Scheme for Income and Wealth implemented.

Special Cell for dealing with Smugglers' cases created. 

1976 Settlement Commission created and Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975insertedanewChapterXIXAintheIncomeTaxActw.e.f.1-4-1976.

Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 introduced w.e.f. 25-1-1976.

A new scheme for departmentalization of accounts introduced.

Chokshi Committee submitted its interim report.

1977 A new cadre of posts known as IAC (Assessment) created.
1978 Appellate functions given to a new cadre of Commissioners known as Commissioner (Appeals).

Directorate of Inspection (Recovery) set up.

A new directorate known as Directorate of Inspection (Vigilance) came into existence by bifurcating the functions of Directorate of Inspection (Investigation).

Chokshi Committee submitted its final report. 

1979 A new directorate designated as Directorate of Inspection (Publication & Public Relations) created out of the Directorate of Inspection (RS&P). 
1980 Hotel Receipt Tax Act, 1980 came into force w.e.f. 1.4.1981.
1981 Economic Administrative Reforms Commission set up.

Three new Directorates viz. Directorate of Inspection (Intelligence), Directorate of Inspection (Survey) and Directorate of Inspection (Systems) created.

Within the Directorate of Inspection (Income Tax and Audit), a separate Director of Inspection (Audit) appointed.

Directorate of Inspection (RS&P) re-organised and Directorate of Inspection (P&PR) re-designated as Directorate of Inspection (Printing & Publications).

I.R.S.(DT) Staff College, Nagpur, re-designated as National Academy of Direct Taxes.

Special Bearer Bonds (Immunities & Exemptions) Act promulgated.

Director General (Special Investigation) and Director General (Investigation) appointed to control the functioning of various Directorates under the control of Central Board of Direct Taxes.

Five posts of Chief Commissioner (Administration) created.

A few posts of Commissioner of Income-tax were earmarked as Commissioner of Income-tax (Inv.) and Commissioner of Income- tax (Recovery).

1982 Special Cell within the Directorate of Inspection (Investigation) converted into a separate Directorate and re-designated as Directorate of Inspection (Special Investigation).

DIT (Systems) appointed in the Directorate of Income-tax (Organisation and Management Services) to coordinate efforts in introducing electronic data processing in the IT Deptt. A microprocessor based EDP system along with data entry system was installed heralding the era of computerisation.

Levy of Hotel Receipts Tax discontinued.

Regional Training Institute at Nagpur started functioning under the control of the National Academy of Direct Taxes.

1983 The vigilance set up reorganised and the strength of Dy. Director (Vigilance) and Asstt. Director(Vigilance) augmented.

Computerised systems for processing challans and PAN designed and developed. 

1984 Taxation Laws(Amendment) Act1984 passed to streamline procedures in the interest of better work management; avoid inconvenience to tax payers; reduce litigation; remove anomalies and rationalise some provisions.
1985 Post of Director General (Investigation) created for more effective checking of tax evasion.

E.D.(Amendment) Act1985 discontinues levy of estate duty on deaths occurring on or after 16.03.1985.

Compulsory Deposit Scheme (Income Tax Payers) Act 1974 discontinued w.e.f. 1.4.1985.

Interest Tax Act, 1974 discontinued w.e.f. 31.3.1985

A new "Reward Scheme" for motivating officers introduced w.e.f. 1.4.1985.

1986 The I.T. Act and W.T. Act amended by Taxation Laws (Amendment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act :-

Established Settlement Commission.

Introduced Block assets concept for depreciation.

Four offices of Appropriate Authority for acquiring property in which unaccounted money is invested set up in metropolitan cities. 
 

      
1987 Government's approval obtained to set up three new benches of Settlement Commission.

L.K. Jha Committee set up for simplification and rationalisation of tax laws.

Office of Directorate General (Tax Exemption) set up at Calcutta.

The Direct Tax Law(Amendment) Act1987 introduced uniform previous year and redesignated the following authorities :-

Director of Inspection

Insp. Asstt. Commissioner of I.Tax

Appellate. Asstt. Commissioner

Income tax Officer Gr. A

Income tax Officer Gr. B

      Director of Income Tax

Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax.

-Do- (Appeals)

Asstt. Commissioner of I.Tax

Income tax Officer 
 

Expenditure Tax Act 1987 brought into force.

1988        Benami Transactions Prohibition Act1988 introduced.

The Government announced a "Time Window Scheme" which allowed tax payers 50% rebate of interest u/s 220(2) if they pay the tax and balance interest. The scheme was in operation between 1.7.88 to 30.9.88.

CIT (Central) placed under the control and supervision of Director General (Investigation).

Government decided that cadre control for Group 'C' and 'D' posts would be with Chief Commissioner and with CBDT for Group 'A' and 'B'posts.

Extension of Direct Tax Law to the State of Sikkim by a notification of the President of India dated 7.11.1988.

1989 Creation of an attached office of DGIT(Management Systems) to supervise Directorate of I.Tax(Research, Statistics, Publication & Public Relations) and Directorate of I.Tax (Organisation and Management Services) from Sept.1989
1990 Gift tax Bill introduced on 31.5.1990

Creation of 65 posts of Dy. Commissioner of I.Tax by up gradation of equal number of posts of Asstt. Commissioner of I.Tax.

1991 Interest Tax Act, 1974 revived.

Directorate of I.Tax(Systems) started reporting directly to Board.

1992 Rs. 1400 Presumptive Taxation scheme introduced as a measure to widen tax base.

The post of Director General of Income-tax (Management Systems) was abolished.

1993 40 additional posts of Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) created.

Authority for Advance Rulings set up.

A comprehensive phased cadre review for Group B, C and D initiated.

1994 2068 additional posts in Group B, C and D sanctioned.

New PAN introduced.

Regional Computer Centres (RCCs) were set up in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.

1995 New procedure for search assessment introduced.

50 years of training commemorated and "Seminar Twenty Five" introduced by National Academy of Direct Taxes. 

1996 77 posts of Commissioners of Income-tax created.

Infrastructure for operational needs strengthened.

Study report on 4th cadre review of Group 'A' officers (IRS) of the Department prepared by Directorate of Income Tax (Organisation and Management Services).

1997 Rates of Income-tax reduced significantly.

Legal measures to widen tax base on certain economic indicators introduced in selected cities.

Presumptive tax scheme discontinued.

Voluntary Disclosure Scheme 1997 introduced.

Minimum Alternate Tax introduced.

National Computer Centre (NCC) was set up in Delhi.

1998 Sec. 260A introduced enabling direct appeals to High Court.

1/6 Scheme & penalty for non-filing of return introduced to widen tax base.

Gift-tax abolished for gifts made after 1.10. 1998.

Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme 1998 introduced.

Silver Jubilee of Regional Training Institutes celebrated.

Designation of Asstt. Commissioner (Senior Time Scale) changed to Dy. Commissioner and that of Dy. Commissioner (Junior Administrative Grade) to Joint Commissioner.

1999 Furnishing details of bank account and credit cards in the prescribed form made mandatory for refund purpose.

Prima-facie adjustments to return done away with; acknowledgments to serve as intimations.

Samman Scheme introduced in1999 to honour deserving tax payers.

2000 The process of implementation of restructuring of the Department commenced to increase efficiency and to deal with increased workload.

Total sanctioned work force reduced from 61,031 to 58,315.

Certain rationalisation measures at structural levels introduced.

Interest-tax Act terminated with effect from 1-4-2000.

2001 The restructuring of the Department resulted in reducing the stagnation at all levels and large number of personnel were promoted in various grades.

Jurisdiction pattern was revamped.

New posts were created at the level of DGIT/DIT in the areas of Research, International Taxation and Infrastructure.

2002 Computerised processing of returns all over the country introduced.

Kelkar Committee Report, inter alia, recommended :-

      i. Outsourcing of non-core functions of the department ;

      ii. Reduction in exemptions, deductions, relief, rebates etc.

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