Five bureaucrats from IRS framed the New Direct Tax Code

THE New Direct Tax Code which was drafted in secrecy for over five years, was a product of mainly five North Block bureaucrats from Indian Revenue Service (IRS).  Whereas Arbind Modi, a 1981 batch IRS and currently joint secretary in Tax Policy Legislation (TPL) division of the revenue department has already been known as an "Architect of the Code", there are four others who too were closely engaged in preparing the document which is likely to replace the I-T Act of 1961, provided Parliament gives its nod.  In fact, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex body on direct tax matters, was not involved in the preparation of the code and some former chairmen of the Board were not even aware of the content of the document before it came out in public domain.  Ms Anita Kapur who is now shifted to foreign tax division (FTD) of the revenue department, shared a major part of the workload of drafting of the code with Mr Modi. Mr Modi who is now engaged with finmin's effort to sensitise the code by organising public meets, is the only officer in TPL section who was a part of the original team of drafting of the code.  Mr D P Semwal, who was a director in revenue department from November 2001 to January 2008, handled the draft code's sections such as tax deducted at source (TDS), advance tax collection etc. His batchmate in IRS and fellow director Mr Sharat Chandra was given procedural matters, penalty, filing of returns etc.  Architects Of The Code Anita Kapur: 1978 batch IRS, now in Foreign Tax Division Arbind Modi: 1981 batch IRS, still a Joint Secretary at TPL D P Semwal : 1985 batch IRS, now I-T Commissioner at Dehradun Sharat Chandra: 1985 batch IRS, took VRS to join a private company Pragya Sahay: 1987 batch IRS   Source: The Economic Times Five bureaucrats from IRS framed the New Direct Tax Code THE New Direct Tax Code which was drafted in secrecy for over five years, was a product of mainly five North Block bureaucrats from Indian Revenue Service (IRS).  Whereas Arbind Modi, a 1981 batch IRS and currently joint secretary in Tax Policy Legislation (TPL) division of the revenue department has already been known as an "Architect of the Code", there are four others who too were closely engaged in preparing the document which is likely to replace the I-T Act of 1961, provided Parliament gives its nod.  In fact, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex body on direct tax matters, was not involved in the preparation of the code and some former chairmen of the Board were not even aware of the content of the document before it came out in public domain.  Ms Anita Kapur who is now shifted to foreign tax division (FTD) of the revenue department, shared a major part of the workload of drafting of the code with Mr Modi. Mr Modi who is now engaged with finmin's effort to sensitise the code by organising public meets, is the only officer in TPL section who was a part of the original team of drafting of the code.  Mr D P Semwal, who was a director in revenue department from November 2001 to January 2008, handled the draft code's sections such as tax deducted at source (TDS), advance tax collection etc. His batchmate in IRS and fellow director Mr Sharat Chandra was given procedural matters, penalty, filing of returns etc.  Architects Of The Code Anita Kapur: 1978 batch IRS, now in Foreign Tax Division Arbind Modi: 1981 batch IRS, still a Joint Secretary at TPL D P Semwal : 1985 batch IRS, now I-T Commissioner at Dehradun Sharat Chandra: 1985 batch IRS, took VRS to join a private company Pragya Sahay: 1987 batch IRS   Source: The Economic Times