CBDT, CBIC need to do better; engage with assessees on Saturdays: FM Sitharaman

Coming down heavily on the Central Board of Direct Tax (CBDT) and Central Board of Indirect tax and Customs (CBIC) finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that both CBDT and CBIC need to do better on engaging with the assessees. "Are the boards sitting in their offices and not even accessing the assessees?" a visibly upset Sitharaman quipped at a post-budget interaction with the industry in Bangalore today. FM's responses were triggered when tax rules and process related questions were asked to the panel of secretaries by the industry, while she was expecting the industry to engage more on the policy level interventions required. "I am curious to know whether the CBIC and the CBDT here are engaging with the assessees. I would now tell the CBDT and CBIC to keep their Saturdays free and engage with the assessees and give them all the clarifications required," FM said at the event.