Simplified Budget Preparation

Abstract

In the present economic system the budget preparation is massive, multi staged, time consuming and laborious process. There are thousands of different high or very low valued goods or services to be segregated into different groups and taxed by both Centre and States with different taxes at three or more slab rates and, as if these are not enough, there are additional surcharges or cesses on selected goods. These tax structures and slab rates on different goods keep changing every year. With these complicated tax structures and ever changing slab rates every year, the tax compliance by individual manufacturers, dealers and retailers has been difficult, cumbersome and bothersome. Taxes are being collected by different tax collection departments based on the accounts maintained by individuals who run industry or business. There is plenty of room for understatement of production and sales, tax evasion and consequent by-product of black money. But in the suggested TOP Tax system there will be only single tax called TOP (Transfer Or Purchase) tax with fixed/stationary slab rate (4%) on all money transfers from one account to another account through cheque, debit card and online transfer/net banking in the purchase chain of consumers, retailers and manufacturers. The Transfer Or Purchase TOP Tax (4%) will be deducted automatically by computer systems of banks on all money transfers from one account to another account irrespective of the fact that for what purpose (purchase/donation/salaries/loans) and by whom these money transfers have been made. The tax will be only on money transfers form one account to another rather than on the value of goods and services with ever changing slab rates every year at budget time in the present taxation system. So the revenue collections for both Centre and Stated Governments will be instant, automatic, prompt and continuous process throughout the year with no room for tax evasion. There will be absolutely no tax collection expenditure for the Government and tax compliance cost for citizens. The purpose of budget preparation will be only the allocation of revenues, got from TOP Tax and Profit Tax, to various sectors, departments or ministries. So the budget presentation will become simple, smooth and time saving. Or even there will be no need for budget presentation each year. The yearly budget presentation can be solely utilised for percentage wise allocation and channeling of those automatically collected TOP Tax and Profit Tax revenues by banks to various sectors like housing, health care, education, drinking water, transport, irrigation, agriculture, environment, sanitation, infrastructure projects, rural development, defence and internal policing. The percentage of funds allocated to various ministries, departments or sectors can be changed every year depending upon the need, necessity and urgency acquired by them. The Government structure and machinery can be restructured, downsized and fine tuned not only to reduce wasteful expenditure but also to cater to the basic needs of people concerning housing, health care, education, sanitation and drinking water. To say briefly, the Government’s entire concentration and top most priority will shift from taxation, tax collection and enforcement to implementation of welfare schemes and development of infrastructure projects. The TOP Tax system’s tax collections (TOP Tax and Profit tax) for Government and tax payments/tax compliance by all citizens will be totally automatic and involuntary just like respiratory system in human body. Every account (MSA/SSA/CAN) is an involuntary taxpaying account. Citizens need not maintain separate account books and submit tax returns annually for paying either Direct taxes on personal incomes or Indirect taxes while running business or industry. The single tax net (Transfer Or Purchase tax) spreads all accounts and entire nation without bothering about who holds that account. This will put the tax component of goods/services at just one third of tax component of the existing system. Besides that there will be no tax collection expenditure for the Government and absolutely no tax compliance cost for paying either Direct taxes on personal incomes or Indirect taxes while running business or industry. The Transfer Or Purchase tax (4%) will be deducted automatically by computer systems of banks on all money transfers from one account to another account made through cheque, debit card, DD or online transfers irrespective of the fact that who holds that account and for what purpose that money transfers have been made. Thus tax collection and tax compliance will invariably become one and same. This automatic tax payment and tax collection system ensures that there will be no revenue leakages, unaccounted incomes and wealth. There will be no need for Governments to run separate tax collection departments and tax enforcement agencies and departments to see and verify accounts of all taxable citizens. Similarly people need not employ accountants or tax consultants to pay either Direct taxes or Indirect taxes or to submit tax returns. The plethora of tax laws, that are enacted and being used in the present system to enforce tax payments, will not be necessary at all in the TOP Tax system. The millions of tax related legal cases, which are emanated from non compliance of taxes and unaccounted incomes, and choking the judicial systems of all nations, will not be seen in the TOP Tax system. This is how the TOP Tax system works and helps both Government in Direct and Indirect tax collections without tax laws and enforcement, and citizens in paying taxes involuntarily without tax compliance (accounting, auditing, tax returns etc.,) costs.