Modi calls for 10 crore people to be drawn into tax net

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for 10 crore people to be brought into the tax net, up from the current 5.3 crore, in a bid to expand the revenue base.

“There are a total of 25 crore households in the country, out of which 10 crore have non-agricultural income. The prime minister, in his address, called for the expansion of the tax net to 10 crore,” said Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia.

The prime minister also asked the taxmen to remove the fear of harassment in the minds of the people and advocated what he termed as RAPID — revenue, accountability. pribity, information and digitisation.

Adhia was briefing the media after an address by Modi at the two-day conference of top officials with the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Central Board of Excise and Customs.

Adhia, however, did not give any timeline to reach the 10 crore tax payers base.