Tax department launches ‘Aaykar Setu’ for taxpayers

The Income Tax Department has introduced a mobile app, named ‘Aaykar Setu’ which aims to facilitate taxpayers with solutions to a range of tax-related issues. The app which was formally launched by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday, will also let people link their PAN with the 12-digit unique identification number, Aadhaar.

The app is currently available on the Android platform but the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) plans to make it available as a desktop service as well.”This is a very important step forward by the CBDT and the principal reason being technology as a very powerful tool becomes an enabler,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. With the app, assesses can discharge most of their tax work without any external help, sitting at home, Jaitley said.

Apart from Google Play Store, the app can also be downloaded by giving a missed call to 7306525252.
Since its tax filing season, the launch of the app is timely and may be a handy ‘go-to’ as it offers a slew of services like paying taxes, seeking tax refund, lodging grievances, applying for a PAN etc.

The app offers a live chat facility in the form of a ‘Chatbot’ from 10 am to 6 pm which will provide solution to queries of taxpayers relating to PAN, TAN, TDS, return filing, refund status and tax payments.Besides, people can also have a live chat with tax experts and provides address of nearby tax return preparer.