Latest news with #Shah
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Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Standard
'Trust restored': Officials to ask 'relevant' questions during tax scrutiny
The CBDT has asked its officers to ask 'relevant' and 'specific' questions while scrutinising tax assessments: a decision that experts say will reduce arbitrariness and harassment. Ravi Agrawal, chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes, recently asked Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (PCCITs) to supervise faceless assessing officers and ensure they avoid sending unjustified or vague queries to taxpayers, PTI reported. The directive applies to all scrutiny cases selected for review in FY26. Suresh Surana, a chartered accountant, said tax notices often seek information on personal expenditure, all bank statements, or explanation for travel or business operations even when these weren't relevant to a case. 'Such queries increased the compliance burden unnecessarily and caused stress to taxpayers,' he said. 'Even salaried taxpayers were asked to justify income already reported in Form 16 and reconciled with TDS data. Business owners were served blanket queries like 'justify business expenses' without context,' said Niyati Shah, chartered accountant and vertical head of personal tax at 1 Finance. Ashish Mehta, partner at Khaitan & Co, noted that even audited companies have often been asked to submit 'exhaustive details and past-year bank statements.' How does the CBDT directive help taxpayers? 'This is a step toward restoring trust,' said Shah. 'It forces assessing officers to apply their minds before raising a query and prevents blanket, template-based questioning.' Surana emphasized that it's especially helpful for senior citizens who rely on pensions or interest income. 'Focused scrutiny will spare them from excessive documentation or irrelevant questions,' he said. SR Patnaik, partner (Head – Taxation) at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said the move will 'provide clarity by narrowing the scope of enquiry to specific transactions, making it easier for taxpayers to respond effectively.' Experts say taxpayer must do these things about queries they find irrelevant: -Respond politely, referencing relevant ITR sections or AIS data -Escalate the issue under the faceless assessment structure or through a grievance under e-Nivaran -Cite the CBDT directive to highlight non-compliance As a last resort, approach the Principal Commissioner or even consider a legal writ, said Patnaik 'It helps to get a tax professional involved if the queries remain repetitive or unjustified,' said Shah How will the faceless assessment system improve? The CBDT has placed the onus of quality control on assessment unit (AU) heads. 'This makes AU heads directly responsible for the relevance and clarity of queries,' said Shah. 'Over time, this should reduce 'fishing expeditions' by junior officers.' Mehta agreed, adding that the new responsibility 'should lead to fewer standardised notices and more case-specific scrutiny.' Patnaik, however, cautioned that implementation remains key: 'The faceless system is still evolving. Without a way to directly engage with officers, grievances can remain unaddressed unless structural reforms accompany these directives.' 'The faceless assessment system was meant to ensure transparency, but due to poor implementation, it has often led to genuine claims being rejected and even incorrect notices being issued,' said Rashi Khanna, associate partner at DMD Advocates. 'The department must ensure accountability of assessment units, incentivise reasoned orders, and create a feedback mechanism to improve trust and efficiency.' With enhanced oversight and accountability, the new framework aims to bring more fairness and professionalism to tax scrutiny, a welcome change for compliant taxpayers.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- General
- Express Tribune
CM distributes Rs400m to specially-abled people
At a ceremony held at the Chief Minister House, under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced financial assistance of Rs400 million for the welfare of specially-abled people. Aimed at creating an inclusive, empowered, and equitable society, cheques were distributed among 56 partner organisations at the event, with the aid amounts, reportedly, already transferred to the beneficiaries. Further, CM Shah announced that the DEPD budget would be increased to Rs800 million for the next fiscal year, and that 20 new centres have been established, in collaboration with NGOs, while the capacities of 15 existing centres have been enhanced. Transport has also been provided at 66 centres, offering pick-and-drop services. The CM noted that 12 CRTs (rehabilitation centres) will become functional by the end of this year, with one centre established in each district. Regarding inclusive education, CM Shah announced that a special directorate and curriculum have been developed to enroll children with disabilities in regular schools. He also deemed assistive technologies such as wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, and communication devices, as symbols of independence and dignity for specially-abled persons, directing the installation of wheelchair ramps in all government buildings and mentioning that the Chief Minister House is now fully accessible At the close of the ceremony, specially-abled children presented tableaus paying tribute to the Pakistan Army, and also gifted artworks to the CM.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Setback to AIADMK-BJP tie-up in Tamil Nadu? AIADMK throws mixed signals, ‘people don't like…'
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stirred a political row with a prediction that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form a coalition government in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 state assembly elections. In an interview published on Friday in Tamil daily Dina Thanthi, Shah noted, 'The NDA will for the government in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 assembly elections, and the BJP will be a part of it.' Amit Shah, addressing recent backlash over his stance on English, clarified in an interview that his comments were misinterpreted. 'I said the importance of regional languages should increase,' he explained. 'And we should make efforts so that by 2047, all Indians speak in regional languages,' he added. In what appears to be the opposite of Shah's victory claim, AIADMK spokesperson and former minister C. Vaigaichelvan downplayed the possibility of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu and noted, 'So far, people of Tamil Nadu have not accepted such a coalition government, and it doesn't look like it.' Vaigaichelvan noted that their common goal was to defeat the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Hindustan Times reported. However, his remarks and political opinions about Tamil Nadu's 2026 elections sparked strong reactions from the ruling party. DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, 'They will not win. Even AIADMK people will not vote for the BJP. They have insulted Anna and Periyar. The number of MLAs they have now will reduce further.' On June 22, Hindu Munnani's Lord Muruga devotees conference was held in Madurai, in which leaders of the BJP and AIADMK took part, and the playing of a video clip, allegedly critical of the Dravidian icons Periyar EV Ramasamy, DMK founder CN Annadurai and late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, kicked up a political row. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a scathing attack on the BJP and its alliance with AIADMK, accusing them of attempting to divide the people of the state on the basis of religion and caste. As reported by PTI, speaking in Tirupathur district on Friday, Stalin said, 'Those in the Centre are trying to divide the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion, caste, etc., and they are doing this continuously. When they couldn't do it, they joined with AIADMK here.' Stalin further slammed what he called 'fake spirituality and political drama' by the BJP, alleging that claims of religion being in danger in Tamil Nadu were politically motivated. The AIADMK and BJP formally reunited on Friday after a nearly two-year split, with Amit Shah announcing that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be fought under the leadership of AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami. So far, people of Tamil Nadu have not accepted such a coalition government, and it doesn't look like it. The two parties had previously contested together in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections, but parted ways in September 2023 following political disagreements. (With inputs from agencies) Those in the Centre are trying to divide the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion, caste, etc., and they are doing this continuously.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Murad distributes Rs400m to empower PWDs
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed his government's commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowered society by announcing Rs 400 million in financial assistance for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Addressing a cheque distribution event, organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), at the CM's office, Shah emphasised the importance of sustainable partnerships, access to assistive technologies, inclusive education, and equal employment opportunities as central priorities of the provincial government. Provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Riaz Shah Sheerazi, Zia Lanjar, Ali Hassan Zardari, Shahid Thahim, Muhammad Ali Malkani, Senator Waqar Mehdi, and Special Assistants Syed Qasim Naveed and Sarfaraz Rajar, were also present. The Chief Minister distributed cheques to 56 partner organisations, part of a Rs 400 million financial assistance package aimed at improving the lives of PWDs, with the funds already transferred to recipients' accounts. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Mumbai-based businessman stabbed with screwdriver in Bengaluru for sacking horse trainer; 3 held
Bengaluru: In a dramatic act of revenge straight out of a thriller, a 47-year-old Mumbai-based businessman was attacked with a screwdriver in the parking lot of a star hotel, following a year-old fallout with his former horse trainer. The injured businessman is Suchit Jayaraj Shah, a resident of Patan Jain Mandal Marg near Marine Drive and a horse-racing enthusiast. He had sacked horse trainer Jasbhir Singh a year ago, allegedly over professional differences. Since then, tensions simmered and Jasbhir is said to have threatened Shah of dire consequences. Shah had checked into the hotel with friend Sameer to attend a horse-racing event at Bengaluru Race Course. Jasbhir, upon learning of Shah's visit, came to Bengaluru with his younger brother Sunny and an aide named Billa and checked into the same hotel. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Around 7.20am on June 22, Sunny made a WhatsApp call to Shah's mobile. As he was sleeping, he did not receive the call. Then the hotel's reception called the landline in Shah's room and informed him that Sunny was waiting for him at the reception. Shah and Sameer went to the reception and asked Sunny why he'd called him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo They told Shah that Jasbhir was coming to meet and asked him to wait for 15 minutes. As Jasbhir hadn't reached after 15 minutes, Shah decided to leave. Sunny and Billa got into an argument with Shah and told him to come outside the hotel or they'd kill him. Shah told police they took him to the parking lot where Sunny hit him on the head. When Sameer tried to rescue Shah, Billa grabbed him from behind. Sunny claimed Shah had ruined his (Jasbhir's) reputation. He took out a screwdriver and tried to stab him. Shah collapsed on the ground, and people in the hotel rushed to the spot after hearing his cries for help, police said. While Sunny and Billa escaped from the premises, Shah was taken to a nearby hospital. He later lodged a complaint. Cops swung into action and arrested Jasbhir, Sunny and Billa. The trio claimed Shah deliberately sacked Jasbhir from work and bad-mouthed him. A case has been registered under BNS Sections 109 (attempt to murder). A senior police officer said Shah is out of danger and has returned to Mumbai.
