Mangaluru: In order to track down those who deposit money illegally abroad, the Intelligence and Criminal Investigation wing of the Income Tax Department will take up a pilot project this year”, said Director of Income Tax, Intelligence And Criminal Investigation (IACI), New Delhi D K Mishra on Monday, October 1.

Addressing a gathering at the inaugural programme of the new income tax office (IACI) at Pandeshwar he said,”There are several cases wherein Indian entrepreneurs deposit or invest money in foreign countries, evading tax payment in India. The Intelligence and Criminal Investigation wing of the income tax department has scrutinized over 13,000 cases, in which it has found an undisclosed asset of over Rs 20,000 Crore”, he informed.

Informing about the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Mishra said, “After the introduction of GST in India, the number of taxpayers has increased from 34 million to 54 million in a short span of one year. Mangaluru has the highest potential in income tax collection after Bengaluru in state”, he said.

Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Mangaluru Narottam Mishra said, “Evading tax payment is not easy now as every transaction has been digitalised. Though people may succeed in evading tax, they would be definitely caught eventually. Hence, people should not cheat the government by not paying tax”, he said.

Director of Income Tax (IACI) Arun Kumar, Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) Shakeer Hussain, Income Tax officer Rama Naik among others were present.