For some time, well-heeled individuals and corporates may not lose sleep over fears of tax sleuths knocking on their doors. Close to 8, 500 gazetted incometax employees in the rank of I-T officers (ITOs), assistant commissioners and administrative officers have gone on a nationwide agitation. The outcome, said tax circles, will be fewer tax surveys and raids. Their priority is now processing refunds rather than quickening recovery, said a senior official with the tax office. While its unclear how long the agitation will continue, high net worth individuals and companies with unreported income will enjoy the breather as long as it lasts. The raids at liquor baron Ponty Chaddhas premises in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi were the last such exercise carried out by tax officials. There will be no searches and surveys. We will not send any reports to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), said Rajesh Menon, secretary general, Income-Tax Gazetted Officers Association. The gazetted officers, upset over the delay in filling up vacancies and promotions, have said there will be no TDS surveys, inspections, verifications or any recovery surveys. The government has pegged direct tax collection target at. 5. 33 lakh crore for 2011-12, about 20% higher than the actual collections in FY11. But due to fears of missing the selloff target, it is nudging the department to collect 10% more than the target. – www.economictimes.indiatimes.com