New income x return forms to focus on tax-free agricultural income: Letters to The EDITOR

New income x return forms to focus on tax-free agricultural income: Letters to The EDITOR

New income x return forms to focus on tax-free agricultural income

By seeking more details about presently tax-free agricultural income in newly introduced Income-Tax-Return (ITR) forms like name of district with PIN code, area of agricultural land and irrigation details etc, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has indicated confession about large-scale misuse of tax-free agricultural income by ultra-rich persons, including politicians and celebrities, in all fields including from film-industry and leading sports persons.

But even providing such details as sought in the newly introduced ITR forms, misuse of tax-free provisions of agricultural income by ultra-rich non-farmers cannot be stopped. These persons will declare their lavish farm houses as agricultural land even though these farm houses are in fact used as lavish resorts for weekends and holding parties. Booster-pumps installed to fill swimming pools in farm-houses will be declared as means of irrigation.

Only some basic amount should be exempted as tax-free agricultural income so that only really deserving small farmers may be kept out of income tax provisions. A study can be made for determining such tax-free limit for agricultural income. Income Tax cases of earlier years for ultra-rich persons having declared huge agricultural income should be reopened for exposing such tax evaders and recovery of tax evaded in name of agricultural income.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

1775 Kucha Lattushah,

Dariba, Chandni Chowk,

DELHI.

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