CIC Advises Income Tax Department to Institutionalise Taxpayer-Friendly Grievance Mechanism

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has urged the Income Tax Department to establish a taxpayer-friendly grievance redressal mechanism. The CIC highlighted that taxpayers often face difficulties resolving discrepancies between Form 16 and Form 26AS, frequently being made to pursue authorities repeatedly. It noted that responsible deductors, such as Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), are sometimes not held accountable, causing undue hardship to honest taxpayers. The commission recommended systemic reforms to ensure accountability and transparency in addressing such issues.