Chuck avoidance and evasion: Sitharaman plans to deal firmly with tax evaders

TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi/ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday asked taxmen to firmly deal with those who try to evade taxes and game the system, while at the same time act as facilitators to honest taxpayers.

While she stressed that taxpayers should treat tax payment as a contribution towards nation-building and not as a punishment, the minister asked three investigating wings of the revenue department to share information among themselves to nab evaders.

Addressing officers at the Income Tax Day celebration here, Sitharaman said that efforts should be made to increase the tax base from 8 crore currently as desired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She also said that the direct tax collection target of Rs 13.35 lakh crore for 2019-20 set in Budget was achievable, as the tax department has doubled the collection in the last five years.