The success of Punes Sevottam centre the single window system for income tax payers not only elicited a special mention from the Finance Minister in his Budget speech on Friday,but also led him to announce the extension of the scheme to four other cities in the country. Pune was chosen as the city for the launch of the pilot project that,along with filing of returns,addresses grievances of tax payers within a given time frame. In last one year,the centre disposed of 70 per cent of the grievance applications. Later,the project was taken up in Kochi and Chandigarh. Commissioner of Income Tax-V (Akurdi) K K Tiwari said they have received 1,24,756 petitions since May,2009. While 1,22,819 people have filed their returns at this centre,there have been 1,937 general grievances petitions filed here. We take in all kinds of grievance applications,petitions,including returns of income of the applicant that we receive through the electronic systems from the 12 counters known as the frontal desks. It ensures services within a given timeline and the Finance Minister is looking forward to replicate it in four more cities, said Tiwari. Explaining the system,Tiwari said a unique acknowledgement number is generated for each application on the basis of which an individual can trace the status of an application As per the Citizens Charter of the department,about 16 tax payer services are also taken care of at the centre. Officers said an effective electronic monitoring mechanism has been put in place to render such services.
