New Delhi, July 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
More than 7.3 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) have been filed for Assessment Year (AY) 2026, surpassing the number filed during the previous assessment year, Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava said on Friday.
Highlighting ongoing reforms in the direct tax system, Shrivastava said the Income Tax Department is evolving into a facilitator for honest taxpayers rather than functioning solely as an enforcement agency. He stressed that technology should make tax administration more efficient, transparent and less intrusive.
The government, he said, remains committed to expanding automation, reducing human interface and delivering faster, seamless services to taxpayers. Strengthening the faceless tax ecosystem while enhancing tax certainty, consistency and ease of compliance will continue to be key priorities.
Reviewing the department’s performance in FY26, Shrivastava said nearly 2.24 lakh tax appeals were disposed of during the year, marking an increase of around 30 per cent over the previous year. He added that about four lakh taxpayer grievances were resolved, with a disposal rate of nearly 95 per cent.
On revenue collections, the Revenue Secretary said both gross and net direct tax collections registered growth of around 4-5 per cent in FY26 despite a challenging economic environment.
He also described the new Income-tax Act as a major step towards simplifying India’s tax framework. As part of the legislative overhaul, the number of sections has been reduced from 819 to 536, making the law easier for individuals and businesses to understand and comply with.
Shrivastava said the reforms are aimed at creating a transparent, technology-driven and taxpayer-centric tax administration that encourages voluntary compliance while reducing the compliance burden.
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