While you shop, I-T dept is watching: FM

If your cellphone bill per month is over Rs 1,000, don’t be surprised if you receive an SMS in the next couple of days from the Income ...

If your cellphone bill per month is over Rs 1,000, don’t be surprised if you receive an SMS in the next couple of days from the Income Tax Department.

About 1.5 crore messages will be sent to cellular phone users wishing them ‘Happy Diwali’ and reminding them to file their returns.

Making a fervent plea for those out of the income tax net to start filing their returns, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said, ‘‘In my view, the best way to celebrate Diwali is to file your income tax returns the previous day. October 31 is the last day for all non-salaried assesses to file their returns.’’

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Trying to instill the fear of the government’s long hand in the minds of those who have either never filed their I-T returns or have stopped filing them over time, the FM warned, ‘‘The IT Department has more information than people think we have. Legislative and administrative measures introduced last year have brought us huge information.’’

Giving a partial glimpse to potential tax evaders about the information with the I-T department, Chidambaram rattled off a few numbers. ‘‘1,27,511 parties have transacted and made cash deposits aggregating Rs 10 lakh or more. 3,23, 563 parties have made credit card payments aggregating Rs 2 lakh or more annually. 4,00,966 individuals have purchased mutual fund units of Rs 2 lakh or more.’’

Only about 85,000 people in the country declare an income of Rs 10 lakh and more. ‘‘This number should be doubled, tripled, even quadrupled soon,’’ said the FM.

To ease last-minute rush, thedepartment will keep help centres open for longer hours and deploy more officers.