Transfer of IT exemption cases to Kolkata
New Delhi: The Centre has agreed to look into the official order through which all income tax exemption cases under jurisdiction of North East have been transferred to Kolkata causing immense problem to the IT payees.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gave this assurance to Vincent H Pala, MP, on the last day of the Winter Session of Parliament on Tuesday.
Pala met the Union Finance Minister in Parliament and urged him to reverse the official notification and maintain status quo ante.
Jaitley assured that he would ask his ministry officials to look into the matter and take necessary action.
The Union Finance Ministry through a notification in October said that all exemption cases under Income Tax 12 (A) within jurisdiction of North East have been transferred to Kolkata. This order has put large number of NGOs mainly the Churches into difficulties since they have to visit Kolkata time and again, Pala told the Union Minister.
The NGOs or Churches are registered as society or trust and are entitled for tax exemptions under the IT laws as charitable organizations. “This takes place in local income tax office in Shillong and in case of Garo Hills in Dhubri,” Pala said.
Most often one is required to appear eight to ten times for giving details of transitions and supporting documents. Now all these have to be done in far away Kolkata which will be not only difficult but also expensive for the NGOs and Churches, Pala told the Minister.