Honest taxpayers have nothing to fear: CCIT Vikram Sahay
Srinagar, Jul 14: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in collaboration with the Income Tax Department, on Sunday organised an interactive awareness session at the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC), Lassipora. The initiative was aimed at strengthening engagement between tax authorities and the business community of the Lassipora industrial estate, with a focus on transparency, compliance, and trust-building.
According to a statement issued by KCCI, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCIT), Vikram Sahay, who led the departmental delegation, lauded the initiative and described the event as a constructive step towards bridging the gap between taxpayers and the Department. He urged the business community not to view Income Tax notices as punitive. “There is no need to panic upon receiving a notice. These are merely instruments to seek clarification, and the Department stands fully committed to supporting honest taxpayers,” he said.
Sahay was accompanied by senior officials of the Income Tax Department, including Dr. Ruveda Salam, Joint Commissioner (Srinagar); Shakeel Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner (Circle Srinagar); and Abhineet Jhorar, Income Tax Officer. Addressing the gathering, Sahay cautioned that ignoring tax notices often leads to unnecessary complications, such as the raising of avoidable tax demands or, in some cases, the freezing of accounts, which had occurred in a few instances last year.
He advised business owners to ensure that all income tax claims and deductions are genuine and well-documented. “Tax consultants must act responsibly. Filing inaccurate or exaggerated claims, as observed even among government employees, will only invite scrutiny,” he added.
Reaffirming the Department’s commitment to transparency and open communication, Sahay encouraged taxpayers to directly approach the Income Tax offices for assistance. “We are part of the same society. Our offices are always open for clarification,” he noted.
He also highlighted the need for businesses to update their mobile numbers and email addresses with the Department to receive timely alerts and communications. Additionally, he reminded participants about the significance of advance tax payments—scheduled on 15 June, 15 September, 15 December, and 15 March—which he said are essential for maintaining the country’s financial stability.
During the interaction, participants raised concerns about the jurisdiction of South Kashmir being attached to the Udhampur Income Tax Office, which has caused operational inconvenience, especially for horticulture growers. Responding to this, Sahay informed that a proposal for creating additional tax wards has already been submitted. He assured that instructions would be issued to the Udhampur office to hold a facilitation camp in Lassipora to ease the compliance burden on local taxpayers.
KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga, in his opening remarks, welcomed the Chief Commissioner and underlined the significance of conducting such outreach programmes in industrial zones. He said the session marked the beginning of a more structured engagement between KCCI and the Income Tax Department aimed at grassroots-level awareness.
KCCI was also represented by Senior Vice President Ashiq Hussain Shangloo and Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi. Both interacted with participants and reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to assist its members in understanding and fulfilling their tax obligations.
Mukhtar Ahmad Khan, President of the Industrial Growth Centre Lassipora, delivered the welcome address and felicitated CCIT Vikram Sahay. The session also saw participation from JKPICCA Vice President Arif Ahmad and General Secretary Ishfaq Ahmad.
Participants were reminded that while the deadline for filing income tax returns has been extended to September 30, the last date for submission of income tax statements remains July 31.
The session concluded with consensus on the need for continued awareness drives, particularly around TDS compliance, documentation, and filing procedures. It was agreed that more such interactive sessions would be organised across other major business hubs in the region.
The session concluded with a shared understanding on the importance of continued awareness efforts—particularly on issues such as TDS compliance, documentation, and filing procedures—to strengthen the relationship between the Department and the business community in the region. It was agreed to organise more interactive sessions in major business areas, the statement said.
