Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked tax administrators to fix clear targets to improve the country’s tax administration by 2022.

He said, the government is working towards creation of an environment which shatters the confidence of the corrupt, and instills confidence among the honest taxpayers.

Inaugurating the Rajasva Gyan Sangam at New Delhi today, Mr. Modi mentioned steps taken by the government including demonetization, and implementation of stringent laws against black money and benami property.

He said, human interface must be kept to a minimum in the tax administration’s dealings and asked for a push to e-assessment so that vested interests do not impede the due process of law.

Mentioning the benefits of the GST, Mr. Modi said, besides economic integration and transparency in the system, over 17 lakh new traders have been brought into the indirect tax system within two months.

He said, there is a need to work towards ensuring that all traders including even relatively smaller ones register with the GST system. He also expressed dismay at the huge pendency of tax-related cases in adjudication and appeal.

The Prime Minister said, big sums of money that is locked up in these cases, could have been used for the welfare of the poor. He also asked officers to come up with an action plan to eliminate pendency.