Confident of hitting tax-collection target, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday expressed optimism over achieving the tax-collection target for this fiscal year (2019-20 or FY20), despite looming doubts from within the tax department. 

The Union Budget, presented last month, projected a direct tax collection growth of 17.3 per cent, whereas the mop-up has been only 4.65 per cent up to August 15, according to government officials. 

Sitharaman, however, was confident that the target would be achieved without any harassment to taxpayers. 

“I have been having interactions with tax officials across the country. I didn’t get the feeling that they will have to stretch too far. Target will