Sikkim applicants now required to approach Matigara IT office for IT Exemption Certificates VISHNU NEOPANEY GANGTOK, 27 May: Residents of Sikkim who are exempted under the Income Tax Act, Section 27 AAA, will have to henceforth approach the Tax Deduction at Source (TDR) Wing of the Matigara Zonal Income Tax office in Siliguri for IT Exemption Certificates. The Regional Office of the IT Department at Kolkata, in its meeting with regional heads and Officers In-charge of different districts [Malda, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong] including Sikkim, on 14 May directed the Gangtok office not to issue any more IT Exemption Certificates since this power did not fall in its jurisdiction. Till now, the Aayakar Bhawan at Gangtok, established in 2008, had been issuing the IT exemption certificates. The 14 May meeting resolved that the Gangtok office is mandated to handle only the revenue section for IT assessment. Other tasks like TDS directions and Tax refunds are not delegated to it. So far, because Direct Tax laws were new to Sikkim, the Gangtok IT office was also issuing IT exemption certificates [to Sikkim Subjects and their descendents], for the convenience of the people here, on the verbal direction of senior officials. Direct Tax Laws came into force in Sikkim on 21 June, 2008 and the Income Tax Department is represented here by an Assistant Income Tax Officer. The Ministry of Finance, Tax Department, has set up an office here to manage IT returns in Sikkim. Sikkim is in a transitional phase in terms of Direct Taxes and the Ministry of Finance and Regional IT Office at Kolkata have not yet felt it necessary to set up the other wings in Sikkim. As a result, a large number of people are still unaware of Direct Tax norms like filing of returns, claims and TDS or the importance of PAN and TIN numbers. The Gangtok office has already begun directing applicants the TDS wing of the Zonal Matigara Office, Siliguri for IT exemption certificates. IT officials in Siliguri informed NOW! over the phone that after receiving the exemption application from applicants, the Zonal Office will forward the applications for Regional Office verification and after receiving the IT clearance from Gangtok office, the exemption will be granted by the Regional Office if found appropriate. What is required now for the convenience of the people is for the State Government to approach the Ministry of Finance seeking establishment of other wings of the IT Department in Sikkim.

VISHNU NEOPANEY
GANGTOK, 27 May: Residents of Sikkim who are exempted under the Income Tax Act, Section 27 AAA, will have to henceforth approach the Tax Deduction at Source (TDR) Wing of the Matigara Zonal Income Tax office in Siliguri for IT Exemption Certificates.
The Regional Office of the IT Department at Kolkata, in its meeting with regional heads and Officers In-charge of different districts [Malda, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong] including Sikkim, on 14 May directed the Gangtok office not to issue any more IT Exemption Certificates since this power did not fall in its jurisdiction.
Till now, the Aayakar Bhawan at Gangtok, established in 2008, had been issuing the IT exemption certificates. The 14 May meeting resolved that the Gangtok office is mandated to handle only the revenue section for IT assessment. Other tasks like TDS directions and Tax refunds are not delegated to it. So far, because Direct Tax laws were new to Sikkim, the Gangtok IT office was also issuing IT exemption certificates [to Sikkim Subjects and their descendents], for the convenience of the people here, on the verbal direction of senior officials.
Direct Tax Laws came into force in Sikkim on 21 June, 2008 and the Income Tax Department is represented here by an Assistant Income Tax Officer. The Ministry of Finance, Tax Department, has set up an office here to manage IT returns in Sikkim.
Sikkim is in a transitional phase in terms of Direct Taxes and the Ministry of Finance and Regional IT Office at Kolkata have not yet felt it necessary to set up the other wings in Sikkim. As a result, a large number of people are still unaware of Direct Tax norms like filing of returns, claims and TDS or the importance of PAN and TIN numbers.
The Gangtok office has already begun directing applicants the TDS wing of the Zonal Matigara Office, Siliguri for IT exemption certificates.
IT officials in Siliguri informed NOW! over the phone that after receiving the exemption application from applicants, the Zonal Office will forward the applications for Regional Office verification and after receiving the IT clearance from Gangtok office, the exemption will be granted by the Regional Office if found appropriate. What is required now for the convenience of the people is for the State Government to approach the Ministry of Finance seeking establishment of other wings of the IT Department in Sikkim.