Ranchi: The income tax department is tightening the noose around tax defaulters and offenders in Bihar and Jharkhand.

The taxmen have initiated a crackdown on shell companies involved in clandestine transfer of funds and firms and individuals who deposited huge amounts in banks after demonetisation.

Companies that have been misusing the iron and coal blocks allocated by the government, individuals who have handed over landed property for development but did not get assessed for long-term capital gains and those who showed inflated income from agriculture to avail exemption are also on the I-T radar.

"All of them are under our radar. We respect honest taxpayers, but will not spare the offenders," K.C. Ghumaria, principal chief commissioner of income tax (Bihar and Jharkhand), told the media in Ranchi on Thursday.

He said it was now difficult to evade tax because of stringent provisions and Aadhaar linkage.

Ghumaria said the transactions of about 3,500 shell companies were reviewed and notices issued to many. The replies received from around 25 per cent of them are being scrutinised.

"It has been noticed that some allottees were misusing coal and the iron ore blocks and not even depositing the government's dues," Ghumaria said, adding they had initiated action against such offenders.

They have also identified about 10,000 cases where deposits of over Rs 10 lakh were made following demonetisation and issued notices to over 60 per cent of those in two states.

Around 400 notices have also been issued to those who had allegedly showed inflated income from agriculture.

"Against a target of collecting income tax worth Rs 13,200 crore in Bihar and Jharkhand during the current financial year, Rs 8,061 crore had been collected till date," he informed.

In Jharkhand, Rs 1,115 crore was collected against a target of Rs 2,750 crore.

On the increase in the number of assessees in Bihar and Jharkhand this fiscal, Ghumaria said the number went up to 18.75 lakh from 15 lakh taxpayers.

"Tax returns now need to be submitted within the assessment year itself," he said.

"We are always very attentive towards the grievances of the assessees and the refunds due to them," Ghumaria said, adding that refunds increased to Rs 2,386 crore from Rs 1,526 crore.

Pay protest

Daily wage workers of BSNL on Thursday staged a demonstration in front of their office gate at Jumar in Booty More in Ranchi.

The workers demanded timely payment of wages and check on retrenchment.