All India Federation of Tax Practitioners

President's Message - August 2026

Warm Greetings from the National President for the Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations!

Dear Members and Colleagues,

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, it is an opportune moment to reflect upon the remarkable journey of our nation over the past 79 years since attaining freedom in 1947. Every Independence Day offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on how far our nation has progressed in economic development, infrastructure, education, technology, healthcare, judicial reforms, and democratic institutions. It is a moment of collective introspection, enabling us to appreciate the vision of our founding fathers, acknowledge the contributions of countless citizens, and renew our commitment towards building an even stronger India.

I believe that this spirit of reflection should not remain confined to the nation's progress alone. As professionals, and as members of one of the country's most respected professional organisations, we too must periodically evaluate our own journey. Each of us should ask ourselves whether we have grown not merely in terms of the size of our practice, but also in knowledge, competence, ethical standards, professional reputation, and financial stability. Have we remained lifelong students of the law? Have we adapted ourselves to the rapidly changing tax and regulatory environment? Have we embraced technology as an enabler while preserving the human values that define our profession? Most importantly, have we contributed meaningfully to society and to the profession that has given us so much?

The same exercise of introspection is equally relevant for our institutions. Every Local Association, Regional Association, and the Federation itself should periodically review its own journey. Are we creating enough opportunities for learning and capacity building? Are we attracting and nurturing young professionals? Are we strengthening the bonds of fellowship among members? Are our programmes addressing contemporary professional challenges? Are we effectively representing the concerns of tax practitioners before policymakers and the judiciary? Honest answers to these questions become the roadmap for our future.

AIFTP has earned its enviable stature over the last five decades because every generation of its leaders has consistently reflected, adapted, and evolved with changing times while remaining steadfast to the Federation's core values. It is this culture of continuous self-evaluation that has enabled the Federation to remain relevant, respected, and responsive to the needs of the profession.

As we hoist the Tricolour this Independence Day, let us also have a report card of our own professional lives and of the institutions we serve. Let us celebrate our achievements with humility, acknowledge our shortcomings with honesty, and resolve to emerge stronger through continuous learning, innovation, ethical excellence, and selfless service. For it is only when individuals grow, institutions evolve, and professionals uphold the highest standards of integrity that the profession prospers and the nation truly progresses.

President's Communique

CA S. Venkataramani

A Message to the AIFTP Family

• To Our Young Professionals

You are not merely the future of AIFTP, you are its future leaders, scholars, and torchbearers. The profession you inherit is vastly different from the one your seniors entered. Artificial intelligence, data analytics, faceless assessments, digital compliance, and constantly evolving tax laws are redefining professional practice. While technology will undoubtedly transform the manner in which we work, it can never replace integrity, sound legal reasoning, independent thinking, and the confidence that clients repose in a trusted professional.

I urge each one of you, to view your early years not merely as a period of earning, but as a period of learning. Invest in knowledge before expecting financial rewards. I want you to deserve before you desire. Participate in the activities of AIFTP, contribute articles, attend study circles, seek guidance from our seniors, and never hesitate to ask questions. Build your professional reputation patiently, for reputation is the greatest capital a professional can possess. Remember that financial success is a consequence of sustained excellence, ethical conduct, and the trust you build over time.

• To Our Respected Past Presidents and Senior Members

Every institution is measured not only by what it achieves today but also by the legacy it inherits. AIFTP enjoys the stature and the respect it commands because of the vision, sacrifice, and tireless efforts of those who came before us. Each one of you has shaped this Federation through your leadership, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to professional ethics. I take this opportunity to thank you all and we owe it to you.

On behalf of every member of AIFTP, I express my deepest and sincere gratitude for your invaluable contributions. Though many of you have completed your formal tenure in office, your responsibility towards the Federation never truly ends. Your guidance, wisdom, and mentorship remain indispensable as we prepare the next generation of leaders. I earnestly request you to continue sharing your experience, inspiring younger professionals, and preserving the traditions and values that have made AIFTP one of the country's most respected professional organisations.

• To Our National Executive and Zonal Committee Members

The responsibility of leading AIFTP today rests upon your broad shoulders. Leadership within the Federation is not merely an office to be held, whereas, it is a trust reposed by thousands of members across the country. Every decision we take, every programme we organise, every representation we make, and every young member we encourage should contribute towards strengthening the Federation beyond our individual tenure.

I request each one of you to work with a spirit of collaboration rather than individual recognition. Let us constantly ask ourselves, as to whether our initiatives are enriching our members, strengthening our local associations, encouraging participation from younger professionals, and enhancing the credibility of AIFTP before the Government, the Judiciary, and society at large. Our success should never be measured merely by the number of meetings or programmes we conduct, but by the quality of knowledge we disseminate, the leaders we nurture, and the institutional strength we leave behind for those who follow us.

• To Every Member of AIFTP

A Federation is only as strong as the commitment of its members. The Members of the Federation are the pillars on which the Federation stands. Whether you joined AIFTP recently or have been associated with it for several decades, you are an indispensable part of this remarkable institution. AIFTP derives its true strength not from its office bearers alone, but from the collective wisdom, fellowship, and active participation of every member.

I invite each one of you to participate more actively in the life of the Federation not merely by attending programmes, but by sharing your knowledge, mentoring young professionals, writing for our publications, participating in research, contributing to representations, and strengthening your Regional and Local Associations. Every contribution, however small it may seem, enriches the Federation and strengthens our collective voice.

As we celebrate India's 80th Independence Day, let each of us also celebrate the freedom to learn, to lead, to serve, and to contribute. Let us reflect on our own professional journey, renew our commitment to excellence, and work together to ensure that AIFTP continues to remain the nation's foremost organisation of tax professionals—respected for its scholarship, admired for its integrity, and united in its fellowship.

August – A Defining Compliance Month

August is always one of the busiest months for tax professionals. Apart from the regular GST and TDS compliances, the month culminates with the due date for filing income-tax returns for eligible nonaudit taxpayers. Behind every return filed lies hours of careful verification, reconciliation, consultation, and professional judgment. This period once again reminds us that tax professionals are not merely compliance facilitators but trusted advisors who ensure that taxpayers discharge their obligations with accuracy, correctness, transparency and confidence.

GSTN's Responsive Approach

It is a noteworthy development that the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has deferred the implementation of certain proposed enhancements to the e-Way Bill system after receiving representations from trade, industry, GST Suvidha Providers, ERP vendors, and professional bodies regarding implementation challenges. The deferment demonstrates the importance of constructive stakeholder engagement and the willingness of the technology platform to consider practical difficulties before introducing system-level changes. As professionals, this serves as a reminder that our representations must always be timely, well-researched, and solution-oriented, enabling reforms to be implemented in a manner that facilitates compliance without compromising legislative objectives.

Conclusion:

As always, I seek your continued cooperation, constructive suggestions, and active participation. Together, let us carry forward the ideals of our Federation with unity, humility, and a shared commitment to excellence in service of our profession and our nation.

"The law may change through Parliament, technology may change through innovation, and compliance may change through digitalization. Yet one constant remains the need for a well-informed, ethical, and independent tax professional. It is this enduring role that AIFTP has championed for over five decades, and it is this responsibility that we must continue to discharge with excellence."

I wish all our members and their families good health, happiness, and continued professional success.

With warm regards and best wishes,

CA S. Venkataramani

National President