In an attempt to assist new income-tax assessees file their tax returns, the Department of Income Tax started the first phase of training for 5,000 students under the Tax Return Preparers Scheme. The move is part of DIT's endeavour to facilitate new income tax assessees file their tax returns at a nominal cost.

As per the programme, DIT has partnered with NIIT Techologies to source, train and certify the Tax Return Preparers (TRPs) who would be spread across 100 centres in 80 locations in the country.

"We expect the programme to enable us in creating a pool of skilled tax preparers and reach the wide tax payers base in the country. This would be a cheap way for tax compliance for the marginalised tax payers," said Ms Indira Bhargava, Chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

Expects more assessees

Through the programme, the Government is expecting to add 50 lakh new assessees during the current year.

This would also be the first time that the Government would be paying incentives to someone who is not an employee of DIT.

The income tax department would offer 3 per cent of the total amount that would be accrued through a TRP in the first year to enrol new assessees.

This would then be reduced to 2 per cent in the second year and one per cent in the third year.

However, for every period, the incentives would be capped up to Rs 1,000. NIIT would also run a portal to assist the TRPs as well as a help desk to answer their queries.