(i) Proposed Amendment
In section 40 of the Income-tax Act, in clause (a), in sub-clause (ia),-
(a) for the portion beginning with the words “has not been paid,-” and ending with the words “the last day of the previous year”, the words, brackets and figures “has not been paid on or before the due date specified in sub-section (1) of section 139” shall be substituted;
(b) for the proviso, the following proviso shall be substituted, namely:-
“Provided that where in respect of any such sum, tax has been deducted in any subsequent year, or has been deducted during the previous year but paid after the due date specified in subsection (1) of section 139, such sum shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the previous year in which such tax has been paid.”.
(ii) From Notes on Clauses
Clause 12 of the Bill seeks to amend section 40 of the Income-tax Act relating to amounts not deductible.
Under the existing provisions contained in sub-clause (ia) of clause (a) of the aforesaid section, non-deduction of tax or non-
payment of tax after deduction on payment of any sum by way of interest, commission or brokerage, rent, royalty, fees for professional services or fees for technical services payable to a resident or amounts payable to a contractor or sub-contractor, being resident, results in the disallowance of the said sum, in the computation of income of the payer, on which tax is required to be deducted under Chapter XVII-B.
The proviso to the said sub-clause provides that where in respect of any such sum, tax has been deducted in any subsequent year, or has been deducted during the last month of the previous year but paid after the due date of filing of return or deducted during any other month of the previous year but paid after the end of the said previous year, such sum shall be allowed as a deduction in computing the income of the previous year in which such tax has been paid.
It is proposed to amend sub-clause (ia) of clause (a) of the aforesaid section to provide that disallowance under the said sub-clause will be attracted, if, after deduction of tax during the previous year, the same has not been paid on or before the due date of filing of return of income specified in sub-section (1) of section 139.
This amendment will take effect retrospectively from 1st April, 2010, and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2010-2011 and subsequent years.
(iii) From Explanatory Memorandum
Disallowance of expenditure on account of non-compliance with TDS provisions:-
A. The existing provisions of section 40(a)(ia) of Income-tax Act provide for the disallowance of expenditure like interest, commission, brokerage, professional fees, etc. if tax on such expenditure was not deducted, or after deduction was not paid during the previous year. However, in case the deduction of tax is made during the last month of the previous year, no disallowance is made if the tax is deposited on or before the due date of filing of return.
It is proposed to amend the said section to provide that no disallowance will be made if after deduction of tax during the previous year, the same has been paid on or before the due date of filing of return of income specified in sub-section (1) of section 139.
This amendment is proposed to take effect retrospectively from 1st April, 2010 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2010-11 and subsequent years.
B.Under the existing provisions of section 201 (1 A) of the Act, a person is liable to pay simple interest at one per cent for every month or part of month in case of failure to deduct tax or payment of tax after deduction.
With a view to discourage the practice of delaying the deposit of tax after deduction, it is proposed to increase the rate of interest for non-payment of tax after deduction from the present one per cent to one and one-half per cent for every month or part of month.
(iv) Effect of the amendment
• Section 40(a)(ia) covers the following expenses:
| Particulars | TDS provisions given in the following sections |
| Interest | 193 or 194A |
| Commission or brokerage | 194H |
| Fees for technical services | 194J |
| Fees for professional services | 194J |
| Payment to contractors/sub-contractors | 194C |
| Rent | 194-I |
| Payment of “royalty” to a resident | 194J |
- As per existing provisions of Section 40(a)(ia) of the Act, certain payments made to residents were not allowable as deduction where tax was not deducted or after deduction, was not paid before end of the year. In case where the tax was deducted in the last month of the year, then no disallowance u/s. 40(a)(ia) would be made, so long as the tax was deducted during the year and paid before the due date of filing the return of income.
- It is now proposed that so long as the tax is deducted during the year and it is also paid on or before the due date of filing the return of income, then no disallowance will be made u/s. 40(a)(ia) of the Act. However, it must be kept in mind that in any case, the deduction of TDS is required to be made on or before the end of the year. If there is a failure to deduct tax, the disallowance will be made, notwithstanding the fact that the tax has been deducted after end of the year and paid before the due date.
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