The Income Tax Department of UT J&K and Ladakh, led by Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Amritsar, Lal Chand (IRS), along with Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, UT J&K and Ladakh, Vikram Sahay (IRS), and Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, UT J&K and Ladakh, Rahul Padha, organised an outreach programme on October 18 at the Conference Hall, DC Office, Leh.

Over 100 attendees participated in the event, including Lokesh Yadav, Income Tax Officer UT of J&K and Ladakh; Shruti Arora, SSP Leh; Shabir Hussain, ACR Leh; other officers, officials, and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) from various government departments; and hoteliers, contractors, and business owners.
During the programme, participants were educated about various tax provisions, including the exemptions and deductions available under Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act, which provides specific benefits for residents of Ladakh.

Chief Commissioner Lal Chand emphasized that the purpose of the outreach was to address concerns and clarify any doubts related to income tax. He stated that the Income Tax Department aims to increase awareness about tax provisions and assist people in tax-related matters. The programme also covered key information for DDOs, including clarification of tax deduction procedures.

Joint Commissioner Rahul Padha highlighted common issues, such as outdated or unused email addresses, which can result in missed communications and significant tax deductions. He advised that emails used for verification must be kept current.

Principal Commissioner Vikram Sahay urged stakeholders to update their email addresses with their banks to ensure they receive important tax-related communications. He also announced that the TDS Division of the department would organize a workshop for DDOs and other stakeholders to address TDS-related issues specific to Ladakh.

During the interactive session, participants raised concerns regarding availing benefits under Section 10(26), tax deductions during official postings outside Ladakh, pension-related tax issues, and other tax matters. These questions were addressed by the attending officers.

This outreach programme is part of the Income Tax Department's broader initiative to engage with stakeholders, enhance taxpayer services, and promote voluntary tax compliance.