The Economic Times

Faceless tax assessment lost its way: Why Budget 2026 must fix system, not expand compliance burden

With the new Income-tax Act approaching, Budget 2026 presents a crucial chance to reform India's Faceless Assessment Scheme. Current structural issues like over-engineering and duplicated functions are undermining the scheme's goals of transparency and reduced discretion. The budget must address these inefficiencies to ensure a simpler, accountable, and justice-oriented tax administration.