Phagwara: The Income Tax Department, Northwest Region, organized a one-day awareness and teaching program, “Aaykar Chintan Shivir”,” at Lovely Professional University. The program covered the recent changes in tax laws, compliance procedures, and practical experiences of department officials. Senior officers of the Income Tax Department, chartered accountants, professionals, and other invited guests participated.
The chief guest for the event was Prasenjit Singh, IRS, Member of CBDT, New Delhi. Prasenjit Singh also organized an outreach program related to the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme, 2025, with the aim of informing small taxpayers who hold foreign assets about the scheme’s provisions and disclosure process.
Also participating were Mayank Priyadarshi, Principal Chief Commissioner, Northwest Region, Chandigarh, along with all Principal Chief Commissioners and Chief Commissioners posted in the Northwest Region.
The program began in the morning with a welcome by Shivdan Singh Bhadoria, P.C.I.T.-1 and P.C.I.T.-A.U.-1, Jalandhar, followed by the formal inauguration. It included Saraswati Vandana, then the national anthem and address by Dr. G.S.P. Kishore, IRS, CCIIT, Amritsar, who spoke on the purpose of such programs and their usefulness in carrying out the department’s duties.
After this, Prakash Agarwal, CA, conducted a session on “New Tax Audit Report under Income Tax Rules, 2026,” providing participants with an understanding of the latest reporting requirements, key compliance provisions, and practical issues that arise while preparing and reviewing tax audit reports.
Subsequently, an interactive session on “Arogya Ayurveda and Yoga” was held, with Chief Guest Dr. Acharya Balakrishna, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar, highlighting the relevance of Ayurveda and yoga in promoting physical well-being, mental balance, and a healthy lifestyle.
In the evening session, Rohit Kapoor, CA, delivered a technical presentation on the “Nuances of the Fact-Law Divide: From Facts to Law (the division between fact and law).” The talk focused on the distinctions between questions of fact and questions of law, along with legal interpretation, departmental proceedings, assessments, and appeals, highlighting their significance. The aim of the presentation was to strengthen participants’ understanding of how to identify and resolve factual conclusions and legal issues in professional and administrative matters.
The program contributed to professional development, knowledge sharing, and the overall well-being of participants. It also fostered meaningful dialogue on contemporary income tax law, legal interpretation, and the importance of maintaining a balanced and healthy work environment. Subsequently, under the leadership and guidance of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Amritsar, the Income Tax Department organized an outreach program at Lovely Professional University titled “Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme, 2026” (Small Taxpayers’ Foreign Asset Disclosure Scheme). The objective was to raise awareness and promote compliance among taxpayers with foreign assets.
The outreach program aimed to facilitate a better understanding of the scheme, address taxpayers’ concerns, and foster a culture of voluntary compliance. Taxpayers were encouraged to actively participate, seek guidance, and truthfully disclose their foreign assets to take advantage of the scheme’s provisions.