In yet another tax-friendly measure to contain harassment of taxpayers, the apex indirect tax body Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has directed all its officers to use Document Identification Number or DIN for issuing summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and search authorisation.

"This would create a digital directory for maintaining a proper audit trail of such communication," the CBIC said in its circular.

The move would provide recipients of such communication a digital facility to ascertain their genuineness.

Mandatory quoting of DIN would be extended to other communications from the department in the coming months.

Rajat Mohan, Senior Partner, AMRG & Associates, said that the CBIC move would substantially cut corruption.

"It is a major relief for taxpayers. This will reduce the scope for bribery and corruption substantially," Mohan said.

The CBIC in its circular has said that starting 8 November no search authorization, summons, arrest memo, inspection notices and letters issued in the course of any enquiry without quoting a computer-generated DIN.

It, however, said that a communication can be issued without DIN only in exceptional circumstances.

"However, this exception is to be made only after recording the reasons in writing in the concerned file. Also, such communication shall expressly state that it has been issued without a DIN," the Board said.

The Income Tax (I-T) department has already launched mandatory quoting of DIN for all communications with taxpayers as part of its transparency initiative.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)