Shell out more than tax: Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said more people under his government are paying taxes because they have faith that their money is being used properly, but pitched for a ‘tax-plus one’ system where citizens do a little more towards society besides honestly paying taxes.

Speaking at a townhall with IT professionals, the Prime Minister said the taxpayer base in India has risen not due to threat of penal action but because taxpayers have faith that their money is being used properly and for the welfare of people.

“Paying tax is ‘prakriti’ (natural), not paying tax is ‘vikriti’ (deformity). But paying tax plus doing more is ‘sanskriti’ (culture),” he said.

“I appreciate honest taxpayers whose numbers have increased. But tax that is paid is part of the system. Social service is tax-plus something. We need to create that,” Mr Modi added.

He wanted citizens to do their bit towards social responsibility beyond just honestly paying taxes.

During 2017-18 fiscal, the direct tax to GDP ratio at 5.98 per cent is the best in the last 10 years. There is a growth of more than 80 per cent in the number of returns filed in the last four financial years from 3.79 crore in financial year 2013-14 (base year) to 6.85 crore in financial year 2017-18, according to the Finance Ministry.

“We have a culture where we like to only criticise business and industry. This is not a line of thought I agree with,” Mr Modi said.