I-T unions threaten stir against new software roll-out

Employees and officers unions of the income tax department have warned of a nationwide stir against the implementation of the new advanced software package — IT Biz Application (ITBA) — from October 1, and asked the department to delay the same by at least three months.

They have set an October 31 deadline for the department to meet their demands, which include delaying the implementation of the new software to January 1 and giving them time to learn the new system, and also to stop hiring technical experts on a contractual basis. The department replaced the existing AST software with ITBA in the seven largest metros in a phased manner.

The department believes that new ITBA system can expedite all pending cases, barring e-mail-based scrutiny cases, to e-proceeding-based scrutiny cases.

The strike call has been given by the I-T Employees Federation and Income Tax Gazetted Officers’ Association. But they have not finalised a date for the stir yet. The decision to go on a stir was taken after their meeting with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Sushil Chandra was inconclusive. Their meeting with CBDT member B D Bishnoi was also inconclusive.

When contacted, a department official admitted that they have given a tool-down notice without specifying a time, and added this shows the unions don’t want to work on the new software.

“Yes, the whole assessment process has been hit as the staff neither want to work on the new software nor allow those trained people on contract to do their job. All this has hampered the entire process,” said a senior I-T official here.

The unions have urged the CBDT to delay nationwide implementation to January 1 so that they can better familiarise with the new software.

The new software is developed by TCS and works on the Oracle platform.