India's taxmen get down to business with new rules

Income tax authorities have issued standard operating procedures for re-opening offices from April 20, where all officials and staff from the level of deputy secretary and above will have to necessarily be in attendance.Below the level, the staff and officer attendance will be 33%, an office order from the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax Delhi noted.“Medical insurance of contractual, outsourced and daily wager should be ensured through respective vendors. It is therefore advised that a copy of insurance card may be obtained from these workers or vendors,” the order stated.In consonance with directions by the ministry of home affairs for staggered re-starting of work for government offices, tax authorities have ordered complete sanitisation of the building, frequent cleaning and disinfection of vehicles. Thermal scanning of all officials will be done at entry gates and staff conducting these checks will be mandated to wear personal protective equipment at all times. Officials staying in containment zones will not be considered, while those staying close to office and having their own transport will be considered first. Private transportation facility will be arranged for officials coming from afar, with not more than 40% capacity at a time. The authorities have advised that people above 65 years of age, those with co-morbidities and people thatbhave children below 5 years of age will be encouraged to work from home.While non-essential visitors have been banned from entering tax office premises, those that are allowed will be mandated to wear face masks and maintain social distancing rules. Usage of lifts is being discouraged for officials, while stggered lunch breaks and no gathering of more than five people has been advised.

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