Finance minister P Chidambaram has said the government is taking all steps to make the tax recovery system more transparent and taxpayers-friendly. Stating that his government remains committed to moderate taxes, wider compliance and transparent administration, he warned that tax defaulters would not be pardoned and urged the taxpayers not to waste time in influencing government. The finance minister also appealed to the trade industry to treat service tax with equanimity as excise. He, however, added that the quasi-judicial powers vested in the authorities should be exercised only in exceptional circumstances to punish willful defaulters.
The minister said the new legislative and administrative measures taken by the government have resulted in fiscal stability and increased tax revenues.
