CBDT admits employees' demand, Modification in ITO/ITIs Exam 2009.

It has been decided that even Partially Qualified candidates are also eligible to appear in old pattern of Examination to clear the old papers.

Earlier, the dept. has clarified that at least two basic subjects have to be cleared to avail the chance to appear in the old scheme of examination.

See the details here.

Now under the pressure from the employees the Board has directed that those who have cleared at least one core paper will be eligible to appear in the old scheme of examination.

View the latest notification.

IT/Central Excise Inspectors' Grade Pay : An Update.

The meeting in the Expenditure Dept. took place as scheduled. please find the outcome of the meeting as under.

"In continuation of the meeting chaired by the Secretary (Revenue) on 23.07.2009, a meeting was called by the JS (Per) of Expenditure Ministry. The President and SG attended the meeting. Representatives of the ITEF and Customs Preventive Federation also attended. In the course of the meeting, the Expenditure Authorities conceded that it is not possible to merge the cadres of STA and Inspector due to functional distinction. However they were not ready to commit on the upgradation to Rs. 4600/- and instead they suggested some alternate measures like 2-3- 4 additional increments/ higher start in the pay band/ putting 80% of Inspectors in Rs. 4600/- and the rest in Rs. 4200/- who will move to Rs. 4600/- after 4 years/ clarification that promotion from STA to Inspector would entail FR 22 fixations. We categorically stated that none of the suggestions would solve the problem faces by the cadre. They even suggested that all the Inspectors presently on the rolls can be granted Rs. 4600/- and the subsequent entrant would be in Rs. 4200/- . When we stood to our stand the meeting was prorogued by the JS (P) stating that they would report to the RS and after that the decision would be communicated.

Met the US IFU to pursue the representation against the Dy Controller of Accounts letter regarding Grade Pay on receipt of ACP under the 99 scheme. We briefed him and requested to expedite the matter.

Met Member (P&V) and registered our protest in permitting ICT on spouse joining ground on without loss of seniority principle and expending the order to promotional posts also. The Member agreed to have a relook.

However, we shall continue our agitation program till we receive a positive communication from the Government."

(It is published without any change from the website of Central Excise Inspectors' Association.)

Meeting with Dept. of Expenditure on 24.08.09 regarding merger of three pay scales.

In continuation of the meeting with Revenue Secy on 23.07.2009 regarding enhancement of Grade Pay to IT/Central Excise Inspectors, a meeting has been convened by the JS(Personnel), Dept. of Expenditure on 24.08.2009 .

Service association of Central Excise, Customs and Income Tax has been called to resolve the long standing issue.


View the letter addressed to Central Excise and Customs employees' Association.

Extension of time limit for filing ITR-V form

The Central Board of Direct Taxes had, vide circular No.3/2009 dated 21.05.2009, allowed assessees who file their income tax returns in electronic form without digital signature to submit their verified ITR-V form, within a period of 30 days, thereafter. The ITR-V form was required to be sent to Post Bag No.1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560100, by ordinary post.
It has now been decided to extend the time limit for filing the ITR-V form by relaxing the stipulations in the circular dated 21.05.2009. The ITR-V form relating to returns which have been filed electronically (without digital signature) on or after 1st April, 2009 can now be filed on or before the 30th September, 2009 or within a period of 60 days of uploading of the electronic return data, whichever is later. The ITR-V should continue to be sent by ordinary post to Post Bag No.1, Electronic City Post Office, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560100.

Income Tax employees walked out today, call strike on 9th Sept.

The IT employees observed a walkout today at 12 noon throughout the country to press their demands. The movement has been carried out by the call of Joint Council of action.

They have called a nationwide strike on 9th September.

CHARTER OF D E M A N D S

1. Grant Grade pay of Rs. 4,600/- as per Government of India notification to Inspectors, Private Secretaries and Administrative officers and Rs.1,800/-to all Group D employees; Implement the clarification with respect to Grade Pay of Rs. 5,400/- to ITOs after 4 years w.e.f. 01/01/2006.

2. Out of 1% incremental incentive:

a. Reimburse Mobile phone charges to all employees in the department

b. Sanction Laptops to all Gazetted Officers including AO, PS/Sr.PS, on non-returnable basis.

3. Deptl. Examination-2009 should be conducted accepting demands communicated vide ITEFs letter dated 25^th July, 2009 addressed to the DGIT(Admn), New Delhi.

4. Transfer DCIT/ACIT (who have completed 2 years cooling period and with spouse/medical/compassionate grounds, etc.) and revoke the transfer of officers, who are transferred before completing their tenure.

5. Fill up all vacant posts in gazetted and non-gazetted cadres and effect promotion to the cadre of ACIT/DCIT/Jt. CIT, by giving one time relaxation. (Conduct DPC for ACIT for RY 2009-10 and DCIT for RY as on 01/01/2009 and 01/01/2010).

6. Grant correct seniority to DCIT on account of CAT decision in S.K. Shukla's case and Allot Civil List Code no. to all promotee ACsIT till R.Y. 2008-09

7. Implement the order of the Supreme Court on Inter-se-Seniority in the case of Inspectors.

8. BPR to be implemented only after reaching an agreement with the JCA and stop outsourcing of Departmental functions.

9. Grant Desktop computers to all Group C employees.

10. Dispose of all vigilance cases pending beyond one year.

11. Stop vindictive actions on our members in the light of the recent issue in MP charge.

Strike Notice

Ref : JCA/CHQ/09-10/2 18^th August, 2009

To,

The Chairman

Central Board of Direct Taxes

North Block,

Central Secretariat,

New Delhi – 100 001

Dear sir

This is to give notice that the members of Income Tax Employees Federation and the Income Tax Guzetted Officers Association will be on a day's token strike on 9^th September 2009, under the banner of Joint Council of Action in pursuance of the enclosed charter of demands.

Thanking You,

Yours faithfully

Ashok.B.Salunkhe. Rajesh D Menon.

Joint.Convenors.

Govt. proposes new tax code : Income tax relief expected but home and retirement benefits to take hit

The government today kick-started radical tax reforms by unveiling a draft tax code under which an individual will effectively not have to pay any tax on an income of up to Rs 4.6 lakh a year against Rs 2.7 lakh at present.

The ceilings on tax-free income will be raised to Rs 4.9 lakh in the case of women and Rs 5.4 lakh in the case of senior citizens.

The code proposes zero tax on an income of up to Rs 1.6 lakh but also provides for a tax deduction of up to Rs 3 lakh on bank fixed deposits and specified investments in small savings schemes, insurance and other savings instruments.

Over and above the Rs 3 lakh ceiling, taxpayers can claim deductions for money spent on children’s education, health insurance premia up to Rs 20,000 annually in the case of senior citizens (Rs 15,000 for the rest), medical treatment of up to Rs 60,000 annually for senior citizens (Rs 40,000 for the rest), and expenses up to Rs 1 lakh for disabled dependants.

But there’s bad news as well: there will be no tax break for buying an apartment (which qualifies at present for a tax benefit of Rs 1.5 lakh a year on interest payments). Moreover, withdrawals from retirement funds will no longer be exempt from tax.

Salaried individuals may also feel the pinch since all perks will now be included in the definition of taxable salaries.

Companies will have to pay tax at the rate of 25 per cent instead of an effective rate of almost 35 per cent at present. However, companies that pay minimum alternate tax (MAT) — a tax levied since 1997 on zero-tax companies — could face a big blow since the levy will now be charged on 2 per cent of their gross assets. Earlier, it was charged on 15 per cent of book profits.

2 years to kick in

The changes have been proposed in a tax code that seeks to replace the 48-year-old Income-Tax Act. The code has been put in the public domain for discussion. It will come into effect in about two years after it is passed by Parliament with changes.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who released the tax code along with his predecessor P. Chidambaram, said the bill could be tabled in Parliament in the winter session.

“It’s a simpler tax code and we expect it will usher in better compliance, better tax realisation and lead to far less litigation,” Mukherjee added.

Chidambaram said the tax code had been written from scratch and could be enacted by 2011, synchronising with the golden jubilee of the Income-Tax Act. The former finance minister had started work on the tax code three years ago.

Wealth tax

The ambit of wealth tax is being widened — and this could prove to be a huge blow to the super-rich. Wealth tax will be levied on a net wealth above Rs 50 crore instead of Rs 30 lakh at present but it will cover assets like shares.

However, the wealth tax rate is being slashed from 1 per cent at present to 0.25 per cent. “This has been done to ensure better compliance,” officials said. “Right now, it is a tax that everybody tries to avoid.”

Industry has been lobbying the government to scrap it since the government expects to raise only Rs 425 crore through wealth tax this year.

The direct tax code will obviate the need to introduce a voluminous Finance Bill every year along with the budget — a tiresome rite that former finance minister Jaswant Singh railed against recently during the budget debate. However, tax amendments will still require sanction from Parliament.

Political parties will be happy to learn that the new tax code allows tax deductions on campaign contributions by both individuals and companies, provided the donation amounts to 5 per cent of a person’s income or the profits of a company.

Source : The Telegraph

Proposed Income Tax Rates for Individuals

Up to Rs.1,60,000	Nil
From Rs.1,61,000 to Rs.10,00,000	10 Per cent (Income exceeds Rs.1,60,000)
From Rs.10,01,000 to 25,00,000	20 Per cent (Rs.84,000 + Income exceeds Rs.10,00,000)
Above Rs.25,00,000	30 Per cent (Rs.3,84,000 + Income exceeds Rs.25,00,000)

Proposed Income Tax Rates for Women-below 65 years

Up to Rs.1,90,000	Nil
From Rs.1,91,000 to Rs.10,00,000	10 Per cent (Income exceeds Rs.1,90,000)
From Rs.10,01,000 to 25,00,000	20 Per cent (Rs.81,000 + Income exceeds Rs.10,00,000)
Above Rs.25,00,000	30 Per cent (Rs.3,81,000 + Income exceeds Rs.25,00,000)

Proposed Income Tax Rates for Senior Citizens

Up to Rs.2,40,000	Nil
From Rs.2,41,000 to Rs.10,00,000	10 Per cent (Income exceeds Rs.2,40,000)
From Rs.10,01,000 to 25,00,000	20 Per cent (Rs.76,000 + Income exceeds Rs.10,00,000)
Above Rs.25,00,000	30 Per cent (Rs.3,76,000 + Income exceeds Rs.25,00,000)

Direct Taxes Code Bill

Discussion Paper

Income Tax Dept. Exam : Last Chance in Old Syllabus for partially qualified candidates. Update on Grade Pay Issue.

On 5^th Aug,2009 The Income Tax Dept vide Notification No.II for Dept Exam 2009 made it clear that those who have qualified in at least two of the basic four papers, i.e., Law(i&2), Book Keeping, O.T and O.P. will be given the last and final chance to clear the examination under the old syllabus. It is also mentioned that those who will remain unsuccessful, will have to appear in all papers under new syllabus from the year 2010 onwards.

View the Dept. Circular in this regard.

The exam will commence from 20^th Oct,2009 for both old and new syllabus.

ITEF’s Stand on the issue :

“The Examination on the old pattern was to be for all partially qualified candidates. Partially qualified according to us means are those who have qualified in any of the four basic papers i.e., IT law I & II, Book-keeping, Other Taxes and Office Procedure. The Directorate has decided that partially qualified means only those who have qualified in any two of the above mentioned four papers. This is not acceptable to us.”

Update on Grade pay and Infrastructure Fund Issue :

“ Neither on infrastructure fund nor on Grade Pay settlement has been brought about. The Secretary (Revenue) despite supporting our genuine concern on Grade Pay has not been able to make the Department of Expenditure to see reason.”

“Accordingly it has been decided to organize a walk out of 18^th August, 2009 from 12.00 Noon onwards.”

“On walking out on 18^th August hold demonstrations in front of all offices and the following telegram/savingram/fax sent to the Chairman, CBDT., North Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi-110 001 and to the Secretary (Revenue), Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, North Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi -110 001.

Text of Telegram to Chairman:

PLEASE ADDRESS THE OBJECTIONS RAISED BY ITEF TO THE NEW EXAMINATION RULES AND ELEGIBILITY OF CANDIDATES UNDER THE OLD PATTERN. SETTLE THE SAME IMMEDIATELY

Text of telegram to Secretary (Revenue)

PLEASE GET THE ISSUE OF GRADE PAY FOR INSPECTORS, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS AND PRIVATE SECRETARIES SETTLED AS PER THE GOVT. OF INDIA NOTIFICATION.”

Update on 11th August on Grade pay Issue.

All India Central Excise Inspectors' Association urged the Revenue Secretary to intervene in the Grade pay issue. He earlier had issued directions to convene another meeting in the 1st week of August 2009 to resolve the issue.

Following is the text of the letter.

AICEIA/PRES/2009 11.08.2009

To
Shri. P.V. Bhide,
Secretary (Revenue),
Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi.

Sir,
Sub – Upgradation of pay scales of Inspectors in CBEC & CBDT – Reg

A kind reference is invited to the meeting of officials of the Department of Expenditure and the staff representatives of CBEC & CBDT, convened by the Secretary (Revenue) on 23.07.2009 with regard to the up gradation of pay scales of Inspectors in CBEC & CBDT. In the said meeting Secretary (Revenue) had issued directions to convene another meeting in the 1st week of August 2009 to resolve the issue. I respectfully submit that the proposed meeting has not yet been convened. I humbly request the Secretary (Revenue) to intervene in the matter so as to settle the issue.


Yours faithfully


ARUN ZACHARIAH.P
PRESIDENT, A.I.C.E.I.A.

Copy submitted to:

The Joint Secretary (Admn)
Central Board of Excise & Customs,
Department of Revenue,
Ministry of Finance,
North Block, New Delhi.

Source : All India Central Excise Inspectors' Association.