Prompt service to the tax payers. - Income Tax - 1289/CBDT

INSTRUCTION NO. 1289/CBDT Dated : October 21, 1979 The Board attaches to rendering of prompt service to the tax payers who wish to comply with their legal obligations voluntarily. However, the Board continues to receive complaints in respect of the delays in disposal of direct refund claims, issue of refund vouchers after the refunds have been quantified, giving effect to appellate orders, disposal of section 146 applications and giving correct credit for the pre-paid taxes. Such avoidable delays lower the image of the Department as a whole. The Board is keen to refurnish the image of the Department by taking appropriate steps to remove these irritations. 2. As a part of the exercise to avoid the delays referred to above, a Special Cell has been created under the direct control and supervision of the Chairman to look into the grievances of the tax payers in respect of the irritance referred to above. A copy of the Press Note released in this respect is printed below. You are requested to give the widest publicity to the creation of the Special Cell in the offices under your control by prominently displaying the Press Note on the notice boards and such other methods as may be feasible. 3.It has been decided to forward the complaints received by the Special Cell from the tax payers to the concerned Commissioners of Income-tax for redressal and report within seven days of the receipt. However, it is desired by the Chairman that you will take all possible steps in your charge to see that all the direct refund claims are disposed of within one month of the filing of the claim. For achieving this objective, if necessary, you may reorganise your Refund Circle and ensure that the direct refund claims are attended to within a month, without fail. Your attention is also invited to Board's Instruction No. 1251, dated 12th April, 1979. 4. With a view to avoiding tax payers' filing complaints of delays to the Special Cell, the Chairman has also desired that the office of the Public Relation Officer be geared up so that any complaint received by that office, is attended to promptly.