CBDT Chairman's term extended by one year, as per the government's decision.
In the Heart of India's Capital: The government has given a thumbs-up to extend Ravi Agrawal's reign as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for another year. The CBDT, the policymaking body of the Income Tax Department, is helmed by esteemed Indian Revenue Service officers like Agrawal.
The decision to renew Agrawal's term was officially endorsed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, with the new appointment set to commence on July 1, 2025, and continue till June 30, 2026, or until further notice, whichever comes first.
A 1988 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the income tax cadre, Agrawal stepped into the hot seat back in June 2024, succeeding Nitin Gupta, a 1986 batch IRS officer. Prior to his Chairmanship, Agrawal served as a member of the CBDT (Administration) from July 2023. The CBDT is headed by the Chairman and can have as many as six members in the rank of special secretary.
Amidst the excitement, the CBDT has reminded assessing officers across the country to tighten their belts. They are expected to exercise judicious supervision over their peers and make sure that the questions they send to taxpayers are utterly justified and devoid of irrelevant queries.
The revised directives issued by the CBDT under Agrawal's Chairmanship also emphasize the need for specific, relevant queries. Region heads are asked to ensure that their assessing officers exercise due application of mind while issuing notices for scrutiny and assessment, prioritizing the quality of notices and assessment orders produced.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently called for simpler, more transparent, and taxpayer-friendly tax compliance processes. Simultaneously, she urged all heads of income tax jurisdictions to expedite the resolution of pending disputed tax demands before the faceless appellate authorities.
At the beginning of the current fiscal year, approximately 577,000 appeals were pending. The CBDT aims to clear over 225,000 appeals in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26, involving over Rs 10 lakh crore of disputed demands. Speedy resolution of tax disputes is crucial for fostering confidence in the taxpayer community and maintaining responsive governance[1][3].
(This story has not been edited by our editorial team and is regenerated from a syndicated feed.)
[(1) Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Duties: https://www.cdct.gov.in/about-cbdt/ , (2) CBDT Directives to Income Tax Department: https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/govt-issues-new-guidelines-for-searc...867953-2023-03-14 , (3) Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Structure: https://taxguru.in/income-tax/structure-of-central-board-of-direct-taxes-cbdt.html , (4) CBDT's Decision on Search and Seizure Operations: https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/cbdt-orders-pc citizens-it-to-increase-search-and-seizure-operations-1984178-2023-04-07]*
Business and finance remain integral as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), helmed by Ravi Agrawal as Chairman, continues to navigate the tax compliance processes. Agrawal, along with the CBDT, recently issued revised directives, emphasizing the importance of specific, relevant queries and prioritizing the quality of notices and assessment orders to maintain transparency and foster confidence in the taxpayer community.
