FCC

FM Urges Faster Tax Grievance Redress, Refunds

2025-06-24

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the Conclave of Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (PrCCsIT) in New Delhi, where she urged officials to prioritise prompt taxpayer service and reduce pending litigation.

The meeting was attended by Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava, CBDT Chairman Ravi Agarwal, CBDT members, and senior officers from the Income Tax Department.

Officials presented key updates, noting that 131,844 out of 160,229 grievances filed via CPGRAMS and e-Nivaran platforms in FY 2025–26 had been resolved, marking an 82.28 per cent disposal rate. Refunds also saw a substantial rise, with a 58.04 per cent year-on-year increase. Refunds issued included Rs 233.76 billion under orders giving effect and Rs 104.96 billion through rectification.

In litigation management, the department aims to resolve over 225,000 of the 577,000 pending appeals this fiscal year. This would address over Rs 10 trillion in disputed demand. Following revised monetary thresholds in Budget 2024–25, 4,605 cases were withdrawn, and appeals were avoided in 3,120 cases due to higher thresholds.

The updated thresholds are:

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT): Rs 60 million (up from Rs 50 million)
High Courts: Rs 200 million (up from Rs 100 million)
Supreme Court: Rs 500 million (up from Rs 200 million)

Sitharaman instructed PrCCsIT to accelerate the disposal of disputes under the faceless appellate system and to withdraw departmental appeals below these thresholds within three months. She stressed the need for simplification, transparency, and a taxpayer-friendly approach.

The Finance Minister also directed the CBDT to reduce grievance pendency on CPGRAMS and e-Nivaran, encouraging proactive strategies to address recurring issues. Regional performance in grievance redressal will be closely monitored to ensure consistency nationwide.

She emphasised structured compliance and the adoption of best practices from high-performing regions. A comparative study of performance on grievances, rectifications, condonations under Section 119, and Orders Giving Effect will help identify bottlenecks and guide improvement.

Sitharaman praised CBDT for its work on the draft Income Tax Bill, describing it as aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for legal simplification. She called for preparedness to launch nationwide awareness and capacity-building programmes once the Bill is passed.

The conclave reflected a strong push for taxpayer-centric reforms, digital integration, and efficient dispute resolution to improve trust and compliance across the board.