I-Tax department to 'name and shame' tax dodgers with defaults over Rs1 cr

Beginning this fiscal, the Income Tax Department has decided to 'name and shame' all categories of tax dodgers with defaults of Rs1 crore and above against the earlier practice of naming only major defaulters.

The I-T department had last year named 67 defaulters with tax dues to the tune of Rs20-30 from across the country and published their names and other vital details like addresses, contacts, PAN card number and shareholders in case of companies in national dailies.

The new exercise will enlarge the numbers of tax dodgers manifold by bringing to the fore those names who have defaulted a tax of Rs1 crore or more.

"It has been decided to 'name and shame' all category of taxpayers, including personal and corporate taxpayers who have a default of Rs1 crore and above by March, 31 which is the end of 2016-17 financial year.

"The names will be published before July 31 next year," a senior official said.

The aim is to inform the public about such tax evaders whom the taxman has not been able to lay their hands on despite using various investigative and enforcement tools.

The IT department has also provided a list of such names an identities on its official web portal.