Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
Aaykar Setu

The Income Tax Department has launched a mobile app, named ‘Aaykar Setu’ which aims to facilitate taxpayers. The app will provide better taxpayer services and reduce grievances. Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley launched this app on Monday.

Arun Jaitley while launching the app said, “This is a very important step forward by the CBDT and the principal reason being technology as a very powerful tool becomes an enabler”. He added, with the app, assesses can discharge most of their tax work without any external help, sitting at home.

Since its tax filing season, the launch of the app is timely and may be a handy ‘go-to’ as it offers a slew of services like paying taxes, seeking tax refund, lodging grievances, applying for a PAN etc. It also provides a live chat facility in the form of a ‘Chatbot’ from 10 am to 6 pm which will provide the solution to queries of taxpayers relating to PAN, TAN, TDS, return filing, refund status and tax payments. Besides, the app will also enable the people to link their PAN with the 12-digit unique identification number, Aadhar.

‘Aaykar Setu’, provides ease of use of all the services related to tax payment including tax payment, tax calculation. If there is a problem, then the taxpayer can resolve it by visiting e-Nivaran module of the CBDT. The app will also receive regular updates regarding important tax dates, forms, and notifications on mobile numbers registered with the ITD. Those who want to receive such SMS alerts are advised to register their mobile numbers in the Aaykar Setu module.

Jaitley said, “The app reduces the physical interface between assessing officer (AO) and assessees. Physical interface has many unintended consequences – it is time-consuming and can lead to improprieties”. He added “It also helps us in improving the image of the department. For the reason that one of the not so acceptable alibis given by those who don’t comply is we don’t comply because the harassment that compliance involves. Not that this reason has much reason in it, but today this reason gets eliminated more the interface is reduced”.

Besides, the app is also featured with a section as ‘tax gyaan’ which will be a multiple choice question web-based game to provide knowledge to the youth accessible from mobile as well as desktop.

The app is currently available on the Android platform but the Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) is planning to develop its desktop version as well. Apart from the Play Store, ‘Aaykar Setu’ can also be downloaded by giving a missed call to 73065-25252.

By Bharat