Sitharaman ask I-T officials to go after tax evaders, ensure convenience for honest taxpayers

Business To Business, New Delhi, 25^th July, 2026:   Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday urged Income Tax officials to ensure greater convenience for honest taxpayers while taking firm action against deliberate tax evasion, as she outlined five priorities for responsive and citizen-centric tax governance.
Addressing the 167th Income Tax Day celebrations, the minister said the Income Tax Department's role has expanded beyond tax collection to promoting fairness, efficiency, ease of doing business and quality taxpayer services.
"Over more than a century and a half, the I-T Department has evolved alongside India's economic transformation, continuously adapting to meet the changing needs of the nation," Sitharaman said.
She called on tax officials to focus on five key priorities to strengthen responsive tax administration, emphasising that honest taxpayers should experience a simple and convenient compliance process, while willful tax evaders should face strict consequences.
The finance minister said a modern tax administration must strike a balance between effective enforcement and taxpayer facilitation, reinforcing trust in the country's tax system while supporting India's economic growth.