Tax rich farmers too, appeals CII

Tax rich farmers too, appeals CII
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JAN 23: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has appealed to the government to consider taxing the income of rich farmers as well as income from commercial operations in agriculture to broaden the tax base besides shoring up revenue.

In its pre-budget proposals for 2000-2001, CII said given the low collection of direct tax revenue as well as the need to broaden the tax base, the case for taxing agricultural income was very strong and called for a dialogue with the states on this crucial issue. "Legal opposition to taxing agricultural income has been based on the premise that the power to levy such a tax vests exclusively with the states, " it said.