Finance Minister Urges Faster Grievance Redressal and Reforms at CBDT Conclave
Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a high-level conclave with Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (PrCCsIT) in New Delhi, focusing on taxpayer services, grievance redressal, and litigation management. Key officials including Secretary of Revenue Shri Arvind Shrivastava and CBDT Chairman Shri Ravi Agarwal were present.
In her address, the Finance Minister reviewed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)’s performance in areas such as tax refunds, faceless assessments, and compliance systems. She emphasized the urgent need to resolve taxpayer grievances and speed up refund processes to strengthen trust and transparency.
As of June 17, 2025, 82.28% of grievances on CPGRAMS and e-Nivaran platforms had been resolved. Refunds for FY 2025-26 saw a 58.04% growth compared to the previous year, with ₹23,376 crore issued via Order Giving Effect (OGE) and ₹10,496 crore through rectifications.
The Minister also urged timely disposal of over 2.25 lakh tax appeals out of a pending 5.77 lakh, targeting over ₹10 lakh crore in disputed demand. Recent enhancements in monetary thresholds for appeals were noted:
- ITAT: ₹50 lakh → ₹60 lakh
- High Courts: ₹1 crore → ₹2 crore
- Supreme Court: ₹2 crore → ₹5 crore
Smt. Sitharaman directed regional offices to analyze and resolve root causes of grievances, while adopting best practices from top-performing jurisdictions. She stressed proactive and region-specific strategies to simplify compliance and improve voluntary participation.
She commended CBDT for drafting the new Income Tax Bill aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for legal clarity. The Department was advised to be ready for national awareness campaigns once the Bill is passed.
Source: PIB
