I-T Department 'Names and Shames' Defaulters, 11 out of 18 Top Tax Evaders from Gujarat

Adopting the "naming and shaming" policy, the income tax department revealed the names of some of the biggest tax defaulters in India. The list includes names of 18 entities, including 11 from Gujarat alone, who owe Rs 500 crore tax to the exchequer.

"The step is aimed to publicise and put these names in public domain so that the common man can come forward to help the department in knowing the whereabouts of these. The step is to enhance public awareness against these entities who are acting against law. These names were earlier were put up the department's website earlier," a senior I-T officer said, PTI reports.

Taking a new approach to make the defaulters pay their taxes, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) asked the I-T department to post the list of the 18 companies on its website some days ago.

Following which, several newspapers on Tuesday carried the names along with the data published by the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Administration) in Delhi. The post that was meant to track the defaulters also included their PAN card details and their last known addresses.

"This is the first time the department has put in public domain a list of those wilful tax defaulters who have a tax liability of Rs 10 crore and above. The department, in the public notice, has provided the PAN number and the last known address of these defaulters for the public to know," another senior tax official said.

These are some of the companies that have been named in the shaming list of I-T department.