Srinagar – The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Sunday organised an interactive awareness session with the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax at the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC), Lassipora, aimed at fostering direct engagement between the Income Tax Department and the business community.
The event saw active participation from industrial unit holders based in Lassipora, with discussions focused on income tax compliance, transparency, and taxpayer facilitation.
Chief Commissioner of Income Tax Vikram Sahay lauded KCCI’s initiative, describing the session as a vital step toward building mutual trust between the Department and taxpayers. He clarified that the issuance of notices by the Department should not be viewed as punitive, but rather as a tool for seeking clarification and information. He urged business owners not to panic upon receiving such notices and assured that the Department remains committed to supporting honest taxpayers.
Sahay was accompanied by senior officials including Dr. Ruveda Salam, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Srinagar; Shakeel Ahmad Ganie, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle Srinagar; and Abhineet Jhorar, Income Tax Officer.
He cautioned that failure to respond to notices could lead to complications such as avoidable tax demands or freezing of accounts—cases of which were reported last year. He stressed the importance of ensuring that all claims and deductions are genuine and well-documented, and warned against the use of inaccurate or exaggerated filings, a practice he said was observed even among government employees. He also advised taxpayers to ensure that their consultants are well-informed and act responsibly.
Reaffirming the Department’s commitment to transparency and accessibility, Sahay encouraged taxpayers to directly approach the Income Tax offices for any assistance. “We are part of the same society. You are always welcome to visit our offices for any clarification,” he said.
He also emphasised the need for taxpayers to keep their mobile numbers and email addresses updated with the Department to receive timely alerts. Additionally, he reminded participants of the importance of advance tax payments, scheduled for June 15, September 15, December 15, and March 15 each year, which he described as essential for maintaining the country’s financial stability.
During the interactive session, participants raised the concern of South Kashmir’s jurisdiction being attached to the Udhampur Income Tax Office, causing considerable inconvenience, especially to fruit growers. In response, Sahay informed that recommendations for creating additional Income Tax wards have been submitted, and assured that the Udhampur office would be instructed to conduct a facilitation camp at Lassipora to ease compliance issues.
KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga, in his opening remarks, welcomed the visiting delegation and underlined the importance of taking such outreach initiatives to industrial districts. He said the session marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between KCCI and the Income Tax Department to raise awareness at the grassroots level.
KCCI was also represented by its Senior Vice President Ashiq Hussain Shangloo and Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, who interacted with participants and reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to supporting businesses in understanding and meeting their tax obligations.
Mukhtar Ahmad Khan, President of the Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora, delivered the welcome address and felicitated the visiting Chief Commissioner.
Participants were reminded that while the deadline for filing income tax returns has been extended to September 30, the last date for submission of income tax statements remains July 31.
The session concluded with a shared commitment to organise more such awareness and facilitation programmes across major business hubs in Kashmir, with a focus on TDS compliance, documentation, and timely filing.
