Too many counters leave Bangalore taxpayers confused

Day one at the special counters set up by the income tax department in Gayathri Vihar, Palace Grounds, evoked mixed reactions from taxpayers. While some took just two to three minutes to file their returns, others seemed confused.

“I downloaded the application form from the internet. When I came to file tax refunds for myself and my friend, the staffer at the helpdesk said I cannot file returns on behalf of my friend.

Later, I came to know that I had downloaded the wrong form but it clearly says ‘for the year 2011-12’,” said Prashant Acharya, a taxpayer.

I-T department has introduced two types of forms from this year — Shahaj and Sugam — which are computer-readable. These forms will be given to the central processing centre in Hosur for processing the tax returns and refunds.

A pensioner who came to get the tax refunds found the large number of counters and boards confusing.

“The helpdesk asked me to go to a certain counter. But the person posted there asked me to go to another. From there, I was sent to yet another counter as they said my PAN number was not clear. This is too much,” said C Santhanam, a pensioner from Vidyaranyapura.

Despite 100 counters, helpdesks, senior citizen counters, ATMs, medical aid centre and an ambulance and catering services, the special arrangements made by the I-T department confused and irritated a few taxpayers.

“My brother had to pay `60,000 more as tax. We got enough help from the department staff on how to pay the tax and fill the form. But they forgot to tell us that if we want to pay by cheque, the respective bank will not give the code number to cheques submitted after 1 pm. We realised this only when my brother went to drop the cheque,” said Dr Prakash Iyer.

The tax payment process through cheques would take two to three days. ATMs do not allow one to withdraw more than ¤40,000 in a day, making it a time-consuming process.

As the day progressed, more taxpayers were shuttling from counter to counter and arguing with staff stationed there.

Some even went to the joint commissioner and other high officials who have made a temporary office there for the next 12 days.

Many others said they were convinced with the arrangements made by the income tax department and the help rendered at the counters.

“I filed tax refunds for my daughter and it took me just two minutes. I found the help desk very useful,” said Mohana Bala, a senior citizen from CV Raman Nagar.

M Gauri, R Dayananda and C Jayapalan expressed satisfaction with the service.

“There is one place where you can get the form. After collecting it, approach the help desk for details or any clarifications. There is ample space for taxpayers to comfortably sit and fill the forms. Once this is done, they have to go to the designated counter. To me, this set-up seemed to be very convenient,” said Jayapalan from Rajajinagar.