Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), a department within the ministry of finance, has come up with mobile App, Aaykar Setu App to help users carry out basic tax-related tasks on their own. A similar web page is also created on Income Tax Department website.

The term Aayakar means income tax and Setu stands for bridge. Aaykar Setu app is an e-initiative for the Income tax Department to directly communicate with the taxpayers and aimed at providing information on useful tax services in one place. It helps you to locate the nearest Tax Return Preparer (TRP), provides calculators and other tools, helps you manage your PAN and TDS, calculate and lets you pay tax if any.

The primary objective of the app is to help users understand the various nuances of direct taxes, file income tax, apply for PAN (Permanent Account Number), check TDS (tax deducted at source) statement, and even share grievances with the right authorities.The interface shows the various categories, such as Tax tools, Pan/TAN, TDS, Tax Payment, in a series of cards lined up in two columns as shown in the image below. In most cases, clicking on the app buttons will take you to the snapshot of the information as available on the income tax website.

You can access it in two ways

• As a mobile App called Aaykar Setu app which can be downloaded from the Google Playstore
• On Personal computers(desktop, laptop) at Income Tax Department website at Tax Payer Services

Ayakar Setu Website

Features similar to Aaykar Setu App, are available in the Income Tax Department website at Tax Payer Services. The main page is as follows:

Income Tax Aaykar Setu Tax Payer website

We asked a question on Live Chat and the image below shows the chat.

Aaykar Setu App Live Chat

Got a Problem shows the following screen.

Aaykar setu app Got a problem

Clicking on Register Grievance shows an External Site Alert message saying going to webpage outsite www.incometaxindia.gov.in

Aaykar Setu App External Site Warning

And takes to Income Tax Submit Grievance website

Income Tax Submit Grievance

We played Beginners level of Tax Gyan which had 10 objective questions and secured 100 points.

Aaykar Setu Tax Gyan

Aaykar Setu app

This is the first mobile app by the CBDT.  The android app (size 3.75MB) can be downloaded from the Google Playstore or from a link received on giving missed call at 7306525252.   Once downloaded, it doesn’t ask for one’s PAN, login details etc. as it mainly guides you to take appropriate tax related action.

•  Ask IT: You can ask any query related to income tax
• A CHATBOT provides the answer to the queries raised by taxpayers in no-time. Available on 24 X 7 basis 365 days;
• Unique functionality of keyword based search
• About TPS Vertical: Contains information about all the TPS offices across India. The taxpayer can locate the nearby TPS office through this feature;
• TRP at your doorstep: Now locate your nearest TRP in just a click. TRP (Tax Return Preparer) is trained professional from Income Tax Department. He will assist you in filing your return by visiting your doorstep with marginal fees of around Rs.250 !!! Taxpayers can get Name, Email ID, Contact Details of TRPs along with its location on Google Map.
• Tax Tools: Provides quick calculation on mere input of basic information. Many Calculators such as Medical Facility, Rent Free Accommodation, Transport Allowance Calculator, Children education and allowance calculator, HRA Calculator, IT Return Calculator, TDS calculator.
• Return Preparation Made Easy, PAN/TAN, TDS/TRACES, Tax Payment: Provides filtered result based on users requirement. A user can apply for PAN, Pay Taxes, Submit Grievances from ‘Aaykar Setu’;
• Live Chat: In case users have any query they can use the Live Chat option. This facility will be available from Monday to Friday between 10 am and 6 pm.
• Tax Gyaan: A game to enable the users to learn about Income Tax by just playing a game. It’s a Multiple Choice Question-based game to provide knowledge to the users. The game is divided into 4 levels Beginner, Normal, Hard, and Difficult.

Aaykar Setu App

Review of Aaykar Setu Mobile App

Although, it is a nice beginning to bring the taxpayer closer to the income tax departments rules and processes, we expect that this app would offer much more in the days to come. I preferred the website to App (How many apps to download!) Did you use the Aaykar Setu App or Website? What do you think of it? What did you like and what you did not like?