Mumbai: E-filing of tax returns will be made mandatory for all categories of tax assessees, finance minister P Chidambaram said.

"The electronic mode of filing tax returns has already been made mandatory for corporates and individuals falling under categories 44(a) and 44 (b). Now, we will be adding other categories of tax assessees as well," he told the first batch of tax return preparers trained by NIIT.

He said the I-T code to be introduced by end of this year would outline the categories of taxpayers who will have to file their tax returns online.

Earlier, Chidambaram felicitated the first batch of students who had undergone training under the income tax departments'' tax return prepares scheme through NIIT.

"Individuals working in the TRPS will be provided with identity cards and will be recognised by the Government of India as representatives of the income tax department," he said.

The finance minister said the individuals working in the TRPS would be provided with laptops, to make their work easier.

NIIT was chosen as the training partner for the TRPS of the income tax department after the scheme was announced in the union budget 2006-07.

"TRPS is the first attempt by the IT department to invoke community participation for delivering service closer to the doorstep of the tax-payers. This is also the first direct attempt by the department to reduce the cost of compliance of small and marginal tax payers and encourage compliance amongst them," Indira Bhargava, chairman of the central board of direct taxes (CBDT), said.

She said the scheme would give a unique opportunity for the income tax department to provide self-employment opportunities to the bright youth of the country and give them a platform to extend a helping hand to the members of their community.

. "Through NIITs reach and expertise in training delivery, graduates in remote corners of the country now have a good opportunity to gain self-employment and work towards a better future," said NIIT chairman Rajendra S Pawar.

An online continuing education website is also promoted for the TRPS members so that they could keep themselves updated with the tax laws, he said.