Srinagar: A delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCC&I) called on the Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, J&K and apprised him about the unrest caused to the business community by the inspections and raids by the department officials.
The delegation comprising of Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad President, M.A. Wani,Senior Vice President, Faiz A Bakshi , Jt.Secretarty General and Altaf Ahmad Tramboo member E.C met the official at his office.
They discussed with him the unrest caused to the business community in general and small traders in particular in Kashmir with inspection of their business establishments and thereafter inflicting fines on them for not exhibiting registration certificate and other documents by the Inspecting staff of the Department of Commercial Taxes, a KCC&I spokesman said.
The delegation recalled to the Commissioner that the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries has repeatedly brought to the notice of the department the fact that the business establishments/traders have not only lost their stocks and other assets but the records of most of them got washed away/damaged in the September 2014 floods and they are not therefore in a position to produce/file the required documents/statements with the department. The assesses have however already filed their returns for respective financial years which the department may take into account for assessment. The delegation informed the Commissioner that the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce is not averse to routine checking/inspection by the department but keeping in view of the situation faced by the traders/business community in general due to 2014 deluge the department need to organize special awareness programme for the traders and business community to make them aware about all the requirements to be carried out by them and the scope of relaxation that could be given by the department to help them update and keep their accounts straight with the department. The Commissioner in a very cordial manner appreciated the issue and assured that all cooperation will be extended and humanitarian approach adopted while dealing with traders. He also assured that honest tax payer will always receive due regard and respect while the wilful tax evader will have to be dealt with under law. He however agreed that a seminar as suggested by the KCC&I, for the trader awareness will be organized in association with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce shortly and that a meeting in this context and to sort out other related issues will also be held with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce in due course of time. The delegation also brought to the notice of the commissioner the difficulties faced by valley based traders in getting their goods cleared at Lakhanpur check post. The commissioner assured that he will examine the issue and streamline the process so as to ease out the difficulties faced by the traders.
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