Andhra Pradesh third in IT collection

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh stands third this year in income tax collection with Rs 25,000 crore against Rs 22,882 crore last year. Maharastra stands first and Tamilnadu second in tax collection for 2011-2012.Chief commissioner of income tax (CCA) G Rajeswara Rao told reporters after inaugurating Aayakar Seva Kendras (ASK) at the Income Tax Towers at AC Guards here on Monday, that Andhra Pradesh, at 24.8 pc, surpassed the national growth rate of 23 pc in tax collection in 2011-2012. Though there was 25 percent staff shortage and the disturbances caused by the Sakala Janula Samme and other agitations in the state,  the existing staff worked extra hours and achieved 18 pc growth in tax collections this year.SEVA KENDRAS: About Aayakar Seva Kendra Centres, Rajeswara Rao said ASK is a single-window contact for tax-payers for centralised receipt and registration of certain specified categories of documents  including returns of income.Two Aayakar Seva Kendra Centres were launched in Hyderabad, and one in Visakapatnam and one in Vijayawada will be started very soon. There is a plan to launch Aayakar Seva Kendras (income tax service centres)   at every IT office in the state. At present, 60 Aayakar Seva Kendras were functioning in the country, he said.Rao said said ATM centres would be set up at every Seva Kendra, and credit and debit cards would be accepted to pay tax at the IT offices.UNICNUMBER: Information on tax payment, returns, complaints and grievances will be available at the Aayakar Seva Kendras. When a person files an application for some work at an Aayakar Seve Kendra, the staff will give him a Unicnumber with which he can verify the status of his application or complaint. This system had not been in vogue till now.Rajeswara Rao said every information relating to income tax would be available at the Aayakar Seva Kendras and tax-paid charter would be displayed at the ASKs.