New Delhi: Newly-appointed CBDT Chairman Ravi Agarwal told Income Tax Department officials that the decisions taken by them have an impact on the country's economy and international transactions. He asked the officials to prepare a 100-day action plan. 59-year-old Agarwal took charge as the head of the administrative body of the direct taxes department in the Union Finance Ministry on Monday.

The government had issued orders of their appointment last week. In a letter to the department officials, Agrawal said that together we should create a professional department which is well versed with the nuances of investigation, is sensitive to the needs of taxpayers, is adept at technology and is aware of our approach towards taxpayers. In a message to the department, he said, I urge all of you to make short, medium and long term plans for your respective areas and charges. 

I would appreciate discussing with the concerned teams about the action plans prepared by you. Aggarwal said that the complexities of financial transactions are increasing day by day, while new business practices and the nature of financial transactions are evolving. We address a wide range of taxpayers, ranging from new individual taxpayers to organizations operating across the world. He wrote, we must prepare ourselves to understand the latest trends in businesses and financial transactions so that we are able to address the related issues with a professional approach.

The CBDT chief said Income Tax Department officers should engage with stakeholders to gain greater insight into the financial ecosystem on one hand and build their confidence in our processes on the other.

We must integrate more technology into our processes to ensure that our processes are efficient, fair and transparent, thereby instilling trust and confidence among taxpayers. Leveraging modern technology has helped us streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies and deliver better services to taxpayers, he said.

Aggarwal said that while we should recognise the achievements made through technology-driven processes, government process reengineering and stakeholder engagement, there are still many areas that need attention. He said the CBDT and tax departments are to put in place efficient processes to resolve the issues of over eight crore income tax return (ITR) filers and about 34 lakh deductors.

The Chairman said that the collective effort of the officers of the Department is essential to achieve excellence and make a significant impact on the economic development of the nation. As we embark on this journey together, let us remain committed to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and service, wrote Agrawal. He also urged the tax officers to ensure a healthy balance between their professional responsibilities and personal well-being as they have to carry out their professional duties.