The taxman in Budget team to retire on May 31

THE taxman who has been deeply involved in the preparation of the forthcoming general Budget scheduled to be presented in the first week of July this year will retire by the end of this month. And there is no replacement till now as there has been no approved panel of successors. Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ajay Singh, a 1972 batch Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer, looking after legislation and computerization in the North Block office will retire on May 31, 2009, at least a month before the Budget preparation ends. He is also involved in matters relating to tax planning and legislation of various direct tax issues and Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 1988. In fact, CBDT’s one wicket is already down as member, revenue Saroj Bala, also an IRS officer of 1972 batch retired, but the government has so far failed to get her successor. A member of the CBDT has the rank of an additional secretary to the government of India with a monthly salary of Rs 80,000. The new members in place of Mr Singh and Ms Bala would be chosen from 116 chief commissioners of income tax posted in various places across the country.