LexisNexis®, a leading provider of content and technology solutions for legal, corporate, tax, academic and government markets, launched 'Tax Dispute Resolution-Challenges and Opportunities for India', at India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on July 20, 2016, evening. Hon'ble Mr. Justice A K Sikri, Judge, Supreme Court of India, who was the Chief Guest of the function, released the book along with Mr. Harish Salve, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Mr. C R Dua and many other eminent members from the bar, corporate and media.
During the occasion, Justice A K Sikri congratulated Mr. Mukesh Butani for writing a wonderful book and added, "This book is really an eye-opener and has come out at a very relevant time when we are discussing much about liberalization and with debates going on globalization. Right now, there is a need for very drastic reforms in tax and this book is going to help the policy makers."
Congratulating the author on his achievement, Senior Advocate Mr. Harish Salve in his Keynote Address said, "Mr. Butani's depth of knowledge is remarkable and his capacity for hard-work leaves me amazed. Turning on the leaves of this book, I found the book remarkable. The kind of research going into administrative and fiscal law and also materials gains put together in the book will be of tremendous help to judges, lawyers, tax lawyers and professionals working on tax-related matters. The book provides you clarity with just the right amount of depth that you need to analyse and comprehend, without unnecessary statistics included that leave you baffled. The book gives you a very charitable figure of how long it takes a case to be disposed of and also highlights both the significance of taxation and the significance of disputes. The book also explores a very interesting thought - Alternative Dispute Resolution in tax matters. I wish this regime comes true one day."
The author of the book, Mr. Mukesh Butani said, "India's tax dispute resolution framework has evolved over the years but there is still a long way to go. The book identifies the challenges faced by India in improving its tax administration and explores evolving alternative dispute resolution mechanisms." Mr. C R Dua, Managing Partner, Dua Associates also congratulated the author for putting a great book.
Mr. Mohan Ramaswamy, Managing Director, LexisNexis India-South Asia, said, "Today MNCs are facing the most challenging tax environment in history - a convergence of global forces has resulted in a substantial increase in the number and size of tax audits, assessments, and disputes with revenue authorities worldwide. The book provides a holistic view of how tax policies have shaped in India, the importance of dealing with tax disputes and suggestions to improve: to tax payers, tax practitioners, tax administrators and tax administrative and judicial forums."
Mr. Shreesh Chandra, Senior Director, Tax and Academic, LexisNexis India-South Asia, said, "The book analyses how historically tax policy has shaped in India, its changing landscape post economic reforms and impact of tax revenues on India's fiscal situation. The book also highlights the series of steps taken by the Government of India to address the challenges on tax disputes. Driving from the research and experience of Mr. Butani in reviewing global best practices on the subject, the book offers a futuristic view of how directional changes in the tax policies such as GST law and post BEPS action steps, resolution of tax disputes shall assume greater significance and hence there is a need for faster reforms."
Mr. Vikesh Dhyani, Director, Marketing, Customer Discovery and Innovation, LexisNexis India-South Asia, said, "Fiscal demands on developed and emerging countries have placed considerable pressure on governments to raise revenue and prevent the erosion of their tax bases. The book explores reasons as to why tax disputes have been on the rise and advocates the need to review our administrative and assessment practices to prevent such disputes. The book is meant to serve as a thought provoking and decision making guide for tax policy makers to understand the practices adopted by other nations and consider adopting the relevant ones as India's changing economic and business landscape will necessitate implementation of 'out of box' ideas to address the present situation and make our tax system modern, efficient and responsive to change.
