Coimbatore Industrial Body Accuses Tax Officials of Demanding Bribes for Pending Refunds; Seeks CM’s Intervention
मुख्य बातें
- •The Federation of Coimbatore Industrial Associations (FCIA) has accused Commercial Taxes Department officials of demanding a 10% bribe to settle long-pending tax refund claims.
- •Coordinator J. James stated that micro entrepreneurs were summoned and asked to pay bribes despite having no wrongdoing, waiting years for refunds.
- •The FCIA has urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to intervene and ensure refunds are processed without delay or illegal demands.
- •The allegations highlight concerns over corruption in tax refund processes and the impact on micro and small businesses in Coimbatore.
Coimbatore, May 24, 2026: The Federation of Coimbatore Industrial Associations (FCIA) has levelled serious allegations against officials of the Commercial Taxes Department, claiming they are demanding illegal commissions to process long-pending tax refund claims. In a public statement released on Sunday, the industry body said department officials are summoning micro and small entrepreneurs who have applied for refunds of penalty amounts that were wrongly imposed and are now eligible for reimbursement.
According to J. James, coordinator of the FCIA, the officials are allegedly asking for a bribe equal to 10% of the refund amount in exchange for expedited closure of the files. James stated that many of these micro entrepreneurs had paid penalties despite having committed no procedural or legal wrongdoing. They have been waiting for years to receive their legitimate refunds, only to be met with fresh demands for payment from the very authorities tasked with facilitating these claims.
