KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, July 24: In order to deepen public understanding of the tax system and encourage voluntary compliance, the Income Tax Department, Srinagar, organized a comprehensive awareness program in Sopore on Thursday to commemorate Income Tax Day. The event was held at Dak Bungalow, Sopore, under the aegis of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Shri Vikram Sahay, IRS (1992 batch).
The primary aim of the program was to promote tax awareness among local stakeholders, educate them on the importance of timely and honest tax declarations, and strengthen the dialogue between the department and taxpayers. Speaking at the event, Shri Sahay underlined the vital role that taxes play in national development and economic stability. He urged the gathering to embrace timely compliance and correct reporting as a civic duty, while assuring them of the department’s commitment to being more accessible, transparent, and responsive to taxpayer concerns.
More than a hundred participants attended the event, including prominent traders from Sopore, tax professionals, and representatives from various business and industry bodies such as the Sopore Traders Association, the Income Tax Bar Association, and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kashmir Chapter). Officers from the District Administration Baramulla and Police Administration Sopore were also present and contributed to the smooth organization of the program.
A detailed and practical presentation on various income tax provisions was delivered by Shri Abhineet Jhorar, Income Tax Officer, Srinagar. His address was followed by an interactive Q&A session that saw enthusiastic participation from attendees, many of whom raised pertinent queries regarding tax filing, audits, and digital compliance. The session helped clear several misconceptions and encouraged a more informed understanding of tax responsibilities.
Senior officers from the department, including Commissioner of Income Tax Shri Farhat Khan, Joint Commissioner Dr. Ruveda Salam, Deputy Commissioner Shri Shakil Ahmad Ganie, and Income Tax Officers Shri Moin Siddiqui, Shri Vimal Madan, and Shri Gulzar Ahmad, were also actively involved in the program, demonstrating the department’s commitment to grassroots engagement.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sopore, Shri Shabir Ahmad Raina, was present at the event and played a key role in facilitating the arrangements, which ensured a welcoming and well-coordinated atmosphere for the participants.
Members of Sopore’s business community expressed appreciation for the department’s outreach efforts. Many emphasized the need for such awareness programs to be held more frequently in different parts of the Valley, highlighting how they help dispel fears and misconceptions surrounding the tax system.
In his concluding remarks, Shri Vikram Sahay reiterated the department’s resolve to continue fostering trust and cooperation through sustained awareness campaigns. He noted that building a tax-compliant society requires continuous education, transparency, and mutual respect between the authorities and taxpayers.
The Sopore awareness program marked a meaningful step towards empowering local stakeholders with the knowledge and confidence needed to participate actively in the country’s economic growth, making Income Tax Day not just a symbolic occasion, but a platform for real and lasting impact.
