Wardha Congress MP Datta Meghe and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda have asked the Income Tax department to make sincere efforts to earn the confidence of tax payers in the country.

On the occasion of 150 years celebrations of I-T department here, Meghe said, "Though the direct tax collection was going up every year, there were still many eligible persons who are out of the I-T gambit and needs to be brought in."

Darda in his speech said there is a greater need to change the outlook of the department towards the tax payers.

"Tax payers should be treated with more friendly manner. Computerisation of the entire process should reduce the grievances of the tax payers," he said.

It was high time that the litigations be discouraged and powers be delegated to appealing authorities. GDP and tax collection ratio were not matching and more revenue and more payers should be brought in to the net, he said.

Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, MD Kabra, Vidarbha region and Director General of National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT), GG Shukla were also present on the occasion.

"From a humble beginning of Rs 57,000 crore at the time of independence, direct tax collection has now gone up to Rs four lakh crore.

A Direct Tax Code was in the offing, due to the need for simplification and rationalisation has been felt, which is now in the public domain for discussion and debate by all the stake holders," Kabra said.

During the occasion, Chairman cum Managing Director of Western Coalfields Limited, DC Garg was felicitated, for being the highest Corporate Tax payer in the Central India.