At present, filing of tax returns are to be done be the assessee’s only in the place where they are registered or where they have theri principle place of business. Further, wards or circles are created within a city and the assessee’s are supposed to submit their returns in their respective wards only. The wards are allocated on the basis of the first letter of the name of the company.

But now the finance ministry has made a move towards allowing the filing of returns from anywhere in India. So, the filing of returns would not be restricted to the particluar ward or city.

“We will introduce this facility from 2007. It has to be preceded with computerisation of the department. That job, we hope, will be completed by September-October this year,” said Revenue Secretary K M Chandrasekar.

He pointed out that once a national database was created, assessing officers would no longer be required to process information submitted by a taxpayer. “The processing of the basic information will be done by a back office and the assessing officer will only undertake detailed scrutiny (to detect anomalies). This will also allow us to use our manpower more gainfully,” he said.

Chandrasekar said the move to allow jurisdiction-free filing was also in tandem with the department’s move to allow e-filing of returns. The department had, in September 2004, launched the Electronic Furnishing of Return of Income Scheme. Under it, tax payers could file their returns electronically, through persons authorised to act as e-return intermediaries.

This is a welcome move by the finance ministry as it would make it easier to file returns.

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