State objects move to make Sikkim Subjects go to Matigara for IT exemption certificates

CS CONVENES MEETING WITH IT OFFICIALS, GOVT CONFIDENT THAT MATTER WILL BE RESOLVED SOON
GANGTOK, 30 May: The State Government has taken serious note on the Income Tax Office’s decision to have IT Exemption Certificate applicants from Sikkim approach the IT Office in Matigara, Siliguri. Sikkim Subjects and their descendents are exempt from paying Income Tax on incomes earned in Sikkim. Thus far, they could apply for and receive IT Exemption certificates [for such conveniences as not having tax deducted at source] from the IT Office in Gangtok itself [for details, read news-report headlined, “Sikkim applicants now required to approach Matigara IT office for IT Exemption Certs”, published in NOW! issue dated 28 May 2012].
An IPR Press release informs that on 28 May itself, the Chief Secretary convened a meeting in his office with IT Commissioner, Siliguri, CL Denzongpa, Assistant Commissioner, IT, (TDS) Siliguri, DN Bhutia, and Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle Gangtok, LD Lepcha, “to address the issue that was reflected in the local news papers, so as to assuage the apprehensions of the people accordingly”.
The release details that at the meeting, the Chief Secretary, “in no uncertain terms, very strongly advocated the fact that an Income Tax Office located in Gangtok was for all practical purposes to aid and assist the people of Sikkim in filling their returns, etc”.
He strongly objected to the move to shift the issue of Income Tax Exemption Certificate to Siliguri and “even questioned the logic of having a full-fledged IT Office located in Gangtok”.
“It was very clearly known to the delegation of IT officials that they should re-look at the whole issue and make full use of the IT office in Gangtok and continue with the process of IT Exemption Certificates being issued from Gangtok instead of Siliguri. This would not only cause convenience to the people of Sikkim, but would also justify the logic of having an IT office located in Gangtok. The Chief Secretary also informed the IT officials, that either an officer be posted at Gangtok or the Assistant commissioner of IT, Circle Gangtok be delegated with the powers for issuing such IT Exemption Certificates,” the release states.
The matter is now being taken up with the Commissioner, IT (TDS), Kolkata by the Commissioner, IT, Siliguri under whose jurisdiction the matter falls, and would be sorted out in due course of time, the release assures further.