Government of India
                          Ministry of Finance
                        Department of Revenue
                      Central Board of Direct Taxes


                            PRESS RELEASE

                                                      New Delhi, 15th January, 2016

Subject: Issue of refunds of smaller amounts - regarding.



        In an initiative to reduce taxpayer grievances and enhance the taxpayer
satisfaction, the Central Board of Direct Taxes had issued instructions to Central
Processing Center (CPC), Bengaluru and the field officers in December, 2015 to issue
refunds of amounts less than Rs.50,000/- expeditiously.






       As a result of the special drive to issue smaller refunds, 18,28,627 refunds
below Rs.50,000/- involving a sum of Rs.1,793 crore have been issued between
1st December, 2015 and 10th January, 2016. These refunds relate to Assessment years
2013-14 to 2015-16.






        In order to further expedite the process of issue of small refunds, CBDT has
also directed CPC-Bengaluru and the field units that refunds up to Rs.5,000/-, and
refunds in cases where outstanding arrears are up to Rs.5,000/- may be issued without
any adjustment of outstanding arrears. Office Memorandum F. No. 312/109/2015-OT
dated 14th January 2016, conveying these directions of CBDT is available on the
website of the Department www.incometaxindia.gov.in.



                                                                  (Shefali Shah)
                                          Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (OSD)
                                                  Official Spokesperson, CBDT