FM to Review Tax Bodies’ Performance; Refund, Vigilance Delays in Focus

NEW DELHI, 15 JUNE : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to conduct a two-day high-level review of the performance of India’s apex tax bodies – the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) – later this month.
The meetings, scheduled for June 20 and June 23, will focus on improving operational efficiency, resolving refund delays, and clearing pending vigilance matters, according to official sources.
The performance review will involve interactions with Principal Chief Commissioners of field formations, with an aim to assess ground-level implementation of tax policies and responsiveness to taxpayer concerns. The Finance Minister is expected to stress the need for expedited grievance redressal and enhanced taxpayer services.
On June 20, during the meeting with CBIC officials, Sitharaman will specifically review delays in Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Customs refunds. Exporters and units operating in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have raised concerns over refund claims being held up for over 60 days. Field officers will be asked to present data on pendency trends, rejection rates, and underlying causes of delays, with a view to ensuring time-bound processing.
Trade facilitation will also be a key agenda. The Finance Minister will examine cargo dwell times at key ports and airports. CBIC zones are expected to submit zone-wise statistics on cargo clearance efficiency, use of the Risk Management System (RMS), rates of interdiction, and delays in physical examinations. The goal, officials said, is to identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks that slow down trade flows.
High pendency in investigations by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) is also set to come under scrutiny, especially cases open for more than 180 days.