**Executive Summary**
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) conducted a mega outreach program, ‘Bridging Borders, Building Trust,’ on April 28, 2026, in New Delhi to raise awareness regarding the new Income-tax Act, 2025, and Income-tax Rules, 2026. The initiative focused on simplifying international taxation, transfer pricing, and Advance Pricing Agreements while promoting trust-based governance. Key highlights included the launch of nine guidance brochures and the demonstration of an AI-powered chatbot, ‘Kar Sathi,’ to facilitate voluntary compliance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory and Legislative Updates**
* **New Framework:** Introduction of the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 2025, the Income-tax Rules, 2026, and updated tax forms.
* **Specialized Focus:** Heavy emphasis on International Taxation, Transfer Pricing, and Advance Pricing Agreements (APA).
* **Decriminalization:** Efforts to decriminalize several provisions of the Income-tax Act to foster a more taxpayer-friendly environment.
* **Tax Certainty:** Emphasis on maintaining consistency, credibility, and tax certainty within a globalized economy.
**Taxpayer Services and Digital Initiatives**
* **AI Integration:** Demonstration of ‘Kar Sathi,’ the Department’s AI-powered chatbot designed to assist taxpayers.
* **Guidance Material:** Launch of nine specialized brochures providing guidance on Safe Harbour, APA, Foreign Tax Credit, and Tax Residency Certificates (TRC).
* **Compliance Strategy:** Use of data-driven ‘NUDGE’ campaigns to encourage voluntary tax compliance.
* **Stakeholder Engagement:** Execution of the program under ‘PRARAMBH,’ the Department’s flagship stakeholder engagement series.
**Future Outreach**
* **Global Expansion:** Announcement of upcoming global outreach programs to be organized by the International Taxation Division in collaboration with Indian Missions abroad.
**Impact Analysis**
**Industry and Multi-National Corporations (MNCs)**
**Impact**
These entities are affected by the transition to the Income-tax Act, 2025, and must adapt to new rules regarding international taxation and transfer pricing.
**Action Required**
Review the newly released guidance brochures and ensure internal systems are updated to comply with the 2026 rules and forms.
**Tax Professionals and ICAI Members**
**Impact**
Professionals must master the new legislative provisions and decriminalized sections to provide accurate consultancy to clients.
**Action Required**
Engage with the CBDT’s Tax Policy and Foreign Tax Divisions to clarify technical queries and utilize the ‘Kar Sathi’ chatbot for procedural assistance.
**Income Tax Department Officials**
**Impact**
Staff are tasked with implementing trust-based governance, managing data-driven compliance campaigns, and providing timely taxpayer services.
**Action Required**
Coordinate with Indian Missions abroad for the next phase of global outreach and utilize AI tools to streamline taxpayer interactions.
Key Entities Referenced
Income-tax Act, 2025: A new legislative framework designed to simplify tax laws, decriminalize provisions, and promote trust-based governance.
Income-tax Rules, 2026: The regulatory framework accompanying the new Act, focusing on international taxation, transfer pricing, and taxpayer compliance.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT): The primary regulatory body responsible for administering direct tax laws and organizing stakeholder outreach for new tax reforms.
PRARAMBH initiative: The Income Tax Department’s flagship stakeholder engagement series aimed at raising awareness of new tax provisions and forms.
Kar Sathi: An AI-powered chatbot launched by the Department to provide guidance and improve digital taxpayer services.
Ministry of Finance
CBDT conducts mega outreach with theme
‘Bridging Borders, Building Trust’ at New Delhi,
today
Outreach aimed to raise awareness among stakeholders of
provisions of new Income-tax Act, 2025, the Income-tax
Rules, 2026, and new forms, with an emphasis on
International Taxation, Transfer Pricing, and Advance Pricing
Agreements
Posted On: 28 APR 2026 10:49PM by PIB Delhi
The Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (International Taxation) North Zone organised a Mega Outreach
Programme titled ‘Bridging Borders, Building Trust’ at New Delhi, today. The outreach aimed to raise
awareness among stakeholders of the provisions of the new Income-tax Act, 2025, the Income-tax Rules,
2026, and the new forms, with an emphasis on International Taxation, Transfer Pricing, and Advance
Pricing Agreements.
In his keynote address, Shri Prasenjit Singh, Member (Legislation), CBDT, highlighted the Government's
efforts to simplify laws and rules and promote trust-based governance. He also discussed the
decriminalisation of several provisions of the Income-tax Act, measures to ensure timely taxpayer
services, and data-driven NUDGE campaigns to encourage voluntary compliance.
During the programme, Shri Prasenjit Singh also launched nine brochures on key aspects of International
Taxation — including Safe Harbour, APA, Foreign Tax Credit, and TRC — to provide effective guidance
to taxpayers. The Department’s AI-powered chatbot ‘Kar Sathi’ was also demonstrated.This outreach is part of PRARAMBH initiative, the Department’s flagship stakeholder engagement series.
About 150 participants from industry, MNCs, ICAI, tax professionals, and Department officials attended.
In her opening address earlier, Ms Monica Bhatia, Pr.CCIT (International Taxation) emphasised the
importance of tax certainty, consistency, and credibility in a globalised economy. She announced
upcoming global outreach programmes organised by the International Taxation Division, in collaboration
with Indian Missions abroad.Participants from various associations, ICAI, industry, and tax consultancy firms actively engaged and
appreciated the Department’s outreach efforts. They posed numerous queries, which were answered by
senior Department officials, including Joint Secretaries and Directors from the Tax Policy Division and
Foreign Tax Division of the CBDT. The participants expressed appreciation for the responses.
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NB/KMN
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