The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, will inaugurate the 22nd annual conference of Chief Commissioners of Income-Tax and Directors-General of Income-Tax (DGITs) on Tuesday. Speaking to newspersons, the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Ms M.H. Kherawala, said that the conference would discuss strategies for maximising revenue collection, reducing tax arrears, and widening the tax base. It would take stock of the level of computerisation in the Department and prepare milestones to be achieved by the end of the current year.

Issues relating to utilisation of information available under annual information returns, administrative matters such as infrastructure, and aspects relating to the Right To Information Act would also be discussed. Ms Kherawala said that CBDT would strive to increase the tax base by 15 per cent (over the number of new assesses added in the previous year). "It's an existing policy and this will continue."