Clarification regarding News Report on Tax Defaulter Arrest

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 21st June, 2016.

Sub: – Clarification regarding News Report on Arrest of Tax Defaulters – reg

Certain sections of the press have been carrying news reports today that Income Tax Department is going to arrest wilful defaulters of tax.

In this regard, it is clarified that no such statement has been authorised by the Income-tax Department. Though the provisions for arrest and detention by the Tax Recovery Officers in respect of the non-compliant tax defaulters are contained in the Income-tax Act, these are used extremely sparingly.

(Meenakshi J Goswami)
Commissioner of Income Tax
(Media and Technical Policy)
Official Spokesperson, CBDT.