Winners of festive mall promotions face high taxes, with a flat rate of 33.99% on prizes, as highlighted by a recent case involving a car winner.
The Income Tax Department is planning to extend the Refund Banker Scheme to the entire country as a move aimed at expediting refund of excess tax. The scheme, launched in Delhi and Patna in March this year, was later extended to Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. It will now be extended to the entire country for the non-corporate category of taxpayers. This will facilitate quick and correct issue of refunds, an income tax official said.