Honoring the taxpayers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today launched the program ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’ through a video conference today. The PM launched the Faceless Tax Assessment and Taxpayers Charter from today. Whereas, Faceless Appeal service will come into force on September 25. What does the Faceless Assessment Scheme mean?

The Faceless Assessment Scheme aims to eliminate the human interface between the taxpayer and the income tax department.

Take a look at the features of the Faceless Assessment Scheme here:

  • Selection of a taxpayer only through the system using data analytics and AI
  • Abolition of territorial jurisdiction means a taxpayer may belong to one city but the ITR may be assessed in some other city through random selection by computer.
  • Automated random allocation of cases
  • Central issuance of notices with Document Identification No.(DNI)
  • No physical interface and no need to visit the Income Tax Office
  • Team-based assessments and team-based review
  • Draft assessment order in one city, review in another city, and finalization in the third city.

Exceptions to Faceless Assessment

The exceptions to the Faceless Assessment include serious frauds, major tax evasion, sensitivity, and search matters. The system also excludes international taxation and Black Money Act & Benami Property.

Prime Minister in his video conference has urged taxpayers to come forward and pay taxes as part of their responsibility.

“Those who are able to pay tax but are not paying taxes should come forward with self-motivation. This is my request,” said PM.

Meanwhile, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the initiative is a landmark in the history of tax administration.

“The Prime Minister’s vision is to empower taxpayers, to provide a transparent system, and to honor the honest taxpayer. To realize this vision, CBDT has given a framework and put in a place a system in the form of this platform,” she said.

“A transparent, efficient, and accountable tax administration is what this platform brings it. It uses technology, data analytic, and also uses artificial intelligence. It eases compliance burden, brings a fair, objective, and just system,” the Minister added.

This is considered to be another step that will make the lives of the taxpayers easier. Over the years, the income tax department has carried out several major reforms, including a reduction in the corporate tax. The department had also abolished the dividend tax.

Also read: PM Modi launches Transparent Taxation platform