Question : TAXES OUTSTANDING

MINSTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI. S.S. PALANIMANICKAM)

(a)The amount of arrears of income tax and corporation tax outstanding during the period under reference is as under:

Financial Year	Amount of arrears outstanding
2005-06
(As on 1.1.2006)	Rs. 84,683 Crore
2004-05	Rs. 98,614 Crore
2003-04	Rs, 87,886 Crore
2002-03	Rs. 72,290 Crore.

(b) Person-wise or company-wise details of arrears are not centrally maintained.

(c) Apart from the statutory steps being taken for recovery of outstanding tax dues as prescribed under the Income Tax Act (including attachment of bank account, debtors, etc, attachment and sale of immovable property, etc) the following special measures are also being taken to expedite recovery of direct tax arrears:

i. Monitoring of recovery of arrears in large cases by a Task Force.

ii. Identification of cases involving substantial amount of arrears pending before Commissioners (Appeals) and ITAT and requesting these authorities to dispose of such appeals early so that the demand can be collected during current financial year itself.

iii.Requesting the President of ITAT not to allow stay of demand beyond 180 days as prescribed in section 254 (2A) of the Income Tax Act.

iv. Requesting Settlement Commission to dispose off high-demand cases expeditiously.