Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and all its field offices will be observing and celebrating the 159th Income Tax Day i.e. Aaykar Diwas on July 24, 2019. It was on July 24, 1860, that Income Tax was introduced for the first time in India by Sir James Wilson to compensate for the losses incurred by the British regime during the first war of independence against British Rule. That is why July 24 is observed as the Income Tax Day.
The week preceding the Aaykar Diwas 2019 has been marked by various activities undertaken by the regional offices of the department across the country. Several field offices undertook a grievance redressal week/fortnight to help redress pending grievances of the tax payers. Some field stations also made free legal aid available to tax payers in conjunction with the local Tax Bar Association. Digital kiosk having interactive and informative digital display was also set up at certain stations to improve tax payer services.
Several field stations are also holding functions felicitating super senior tax payers for their contribution to nation building, while also recognising the hard work put in by the officers and officials of the department in various designated areas of work. The department will also launch a “Kardaata e-Sahyog Abhiyaan” which will endeavour to assist and support taxpayers and other stakeholders in enabling them e-file their returns and discharge other tax related obligations.
Several outreach programmes were organised to promote payment of taxes as a value norm and for sensitising potential tax payers that payment of taxes was an ethical duty of all citizens. This included visits of tax officials to educational institutions, public interaction with members of Bar and Chartered Accountant Associations and other stakeholders. Several field stations have held competitions for school children including Essay competition, Debates, Quiz, Slogan & Story writing competition on the theme of payment of taxes and its importance in nation building. Some offices also held street plays/ nukkad nataks to promote awareness of taxes, while several others organised Walkathon/ Taxathon for a cause i.e. a Walk for Taxes, according to a PIB release.
While field offices will organise functions at local levels to celebrate Aaykar Diwas 2019, the main function at the national level will be held in New Delhi on July 24, 2019, and will be presided over by the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, will be the guest of honour. The event will include release of departmental publications, e-journal, publicity kit for outreach programmes among other things.