Complete computerisation of Commercial Taxes Department announced

CHENNAI: With a view to ensure transparency and increase productivity, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced complete computerisation of Commercial Taxes Department, a key revenue generator for the government, and sanctioned Rs 230 crore towards this process.

She has also announced forming a high-level team headed by the Chief Secretary and comprising of Principal Finance Secretary, IT and Commercial Taxes Secretaries among others to monitor the implementation.

"Only the basic functions of the department are computerised now and with a view to increase its productivity, the Chief Minister has directed complete computerisation of the Commercial Taxes Department," an official release here said.

The proposal, among others, would help in bringing down the interaction between the traders and office personnel, thus providing the taxpayer all information online. This would help in ensuring transparent administration, it said.

Jayalalithaa has allotted Rs 230.96 crore towards computerisation, with Rs 93.40 crore as capital and the rest as recurring expenditure over a period of five years, the release added.

She had directed that the process be completed in 14 months, the release said, adding, it would benefit both tax-payers, in terms of easy availability of information, and increased revenue for the state government.

Two-thirds of the state's revenue was received from Commercial Taxes which was beneficial in implementing various welfare measures, the release said.