With the first tranche of the advance tax collection due by June 15, the tax authorities are monitoring the top 100 companies.
In addition, income tax officials have been instructed to compare the quarterly financial statements of large and medium companies and co-relate with the advance tax payment for the first quarter.
Revenue department officials told Business Standard the Central Board of Direct Tax had also issued guidelines to its field formation to monitor advance tax payments by exporters who were earlier enjoying tax exemption on export profits.
Tax officials have also been empowered to issue notices for payment of advance tax.
In order to push up advance tax, which account for over 45 per cent of direct tax collections, the income tax authorities will try to persuade companies paying minimum alternative tax to pay tax at the advance tax stage instead of at the self-assessment stage.
Besides, the rules for tax deduction at source have also been strengthened and tax officials will now pay special attention to such liabilities of media companies that pay commission to ad agencies.
Officials said this was being done as recent court rulings had established that companies were liable to deduct TDS in such cases.
Further, perquisites on account of concessional loans extended by companies, especially public sector enterprises, to their employees have also been included in the list.
Payment of rent by splitting the lease agreement into two or more agreements for lease of building, furniture or for maintenance will also be under watch.