Buying a mobile phone could soon be a less taxing affair, with the government considering a proposal to remove it from the one-by-six list, which mandates filing of income-tax returns.
Senior revenue department officials told Business Standard that the finance ministry was considering removing this item from the 1/6 scheme, following a request from the communications & IT ministry.
The proposal would be discussed at length and, if approved, would require an amendment to the Income Tax Act when the Budget is presented.
Officials said that the communications ministry was of the opinion that a mandatory filing of tax returns for owning a mobile phone was inhibiting the growth of the market.
At present, credit card holders, owners or occupants of immovable property, motor vehicle owners, club members, foreign travellers and mobile phone subscribers are required to file tax returns even if they do not have taxable income.
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