The whole Covid-19 pandemic situation has made government to release a lot of relaxations and clarifications. India’s tax pie seems to have undergone a subtle change with a sharp drop in direct tax collections resulting from a disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 carnage on incomes.
Passing on the benefit of reduced GST rates
One big relief to common man would be the reduction of GST Rate on Hand sanitizers and thermometers by 13%. The reduction will only apply till 30th September, 2021 which leads to the fact that the government does not wish to create a further burden on the already burdened exchequer due to deplete tax revenues.
TECHNICAL GLITCHES ON NEW INCOME TAX PORTAL:
The new I-T e-filing portal www.incometax.gov.in has been experiencing numerous technical glitches since its launch on June 7. The senior officials from ministry of finance would hold an interactive meeting with the Infosys regarding glitches in the new Income Tax portal. Other stakeholders including members from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), auditors, consultants and taxpayers will also be a part of the interaction. Written representations on the problems/difficulties faced in the portal have also been invited from the stakeholders.
RELAXATION IN FILLING OF 15CA & 15CB
CBDT grants relaxation in electronic filing of forms 15CA & 15CB in view of difficulties reported by taxpayers in filing of forms online on the new e-filing portal www.incometax.gov.in. The forms can be submitted in manual format to the authorized dealers till 30th June, 2021.
TAX CALENDAR
| Due date | Form / Return / Challan | Reporting Period | Description |
| 20th June 2021 | GSTR – 5 | May 2021 | Return by non-resident taxable person |
| 20thJune 2021 | GSTR – 5A | May 2021 | OIDAR Service providers |
| 20th June 2021 | GSTR 3B | May 2021 | The due date for GSTR-3B having an Annual Turnover of more than 5 Crores |
| 25th June 2021 | GST Challan | For all Quarterly filers- | GST Challan Payment if no sufficient ITC for April (for all Quarterly Filers) |
TAX CALENDAR
INCOME TAX
NOTIFICATIONS/CASE LAW
MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Department Of Revenue)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES), N. No. 73/2021 dated 15th June 2021
Our Comments: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on June 15 notified the cost inflation index for the current fiscal (2021-22) vide N. No. 73/2021 dated 15th June 2021. The Cost Inflation Index for FY 2021-22 relevant to AY 2022-23 & subsequent years is 317.
The cost inflation index (CII) is used by taxpayer to compute gains arising out of sale of capital assets (immovable property, securities and jewellery etc.) after adjusting inflation. For last Financial Year 2020-21, this index was 301.
[For further details please refer the Notification]
CavinKare Pvt. Ltd. Vs DCIT (Madras High Court); W.P. No. 8077 of 2015; Date of Decision 02/06/2021
Brief: The department cannot take a different view by reopening of assessment u/s 147 in the matter of disallowance u/s 36(i)(ii) for director’s remuneration for the assessment year 2007-2008 from the view is taken for the assessment year 2008-2009 by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals).
Our Comments: For the assessment year 2008-2009, the assessment was sought to be reopened on similar grounds under a similar notice Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) vide order dated 15.12.2017 has dropped the proceeding.
Reopening of the completed assessment based on change of opinion has been frowned upon by the Apex Court by its several decisions. The decision cited by the petitioner are squarely applicable facts and circumstances of the case. Even if the matter is remitted back to the respondents to pass a speaking order, no useful purpose would be served as the respondents appear to have accepted the views of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) vide order dated 15.12.2017 for the assessment years 2008-2009 under similar circumstances.
The respondents have also not produced any documents to show that the said order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has been appealed against before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and an Appeal is pending as on dated. Therefore, even on merits it is not permissible to the respondents to proceed with the impugned proceeding contrary to the said order.
As an assessing officer, the respondent cannot take a different view for the assessment year 2007-2008 from the view is taken for the assessment year 2008-2009 by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) in the light of the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, Union of India Vs Kamalakshi Finance Corporation Limited.
[In favour of the assessee]
INCOME TAX
GST
NOTIFICATION
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, (Department of Revenue) Notification No. 05/2021-Central Tax (Rate) READ WITH CORRIGENDUM NO. G.S.R. 411(E) dated 15-06-2021
Our Comments: The Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) on the recommendations of the GST Council on June 14 has notified reduced Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) rates for Covid medicines and other related medical essentials as tabulated below:
| Sl. No. | Chapter, Heading, Sub-heading or Tariff item | Description of Goods |
Rate |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 1 | 2804 | Medical Grade Oxygen | 2.5% |
| 2 | 30 | Tocilizumab | Nil |
| 3 | 30 | Amphotericin B | Nil |
| 4 | 30 | Remdesvir | 2.5% |
| 5 | 30 | Heparin (anti-coagulant) | 2.5% |
| 6 | 3002 or 3822 | Covid-19 testing kits | 2.5% |
|
7 |
3002 or 3822 |
Inflammatory Diagnostic (marker) kits, namely- IL6, D- Dimer, CRP (C-Reactive Protein), LDH (Lactate De Hydrogenase), Ferritin, Pro Calcitonin (PCT) and blood gas reagents. |
2.5% |
| 8 | 3808 94 | Hand Sanitizer | 2.5% |
| 9 | 6506 99 00 | Helmets for use with non-invasive ventilation | 2.5% |
| 10 | 8417 or 8514 | Gas/Electric/other furnaces for crematorium | 2.5% |
| 11 | 9018 19 or 9804 | Pulse Oximeter | 2.5% |
| 12 | 9018 | High flow nasal canula device | 2.5% |
| 13 | 9019 20 or 9804 | Oxygen Concentrator/ generator | 2.5% |
| 14 | 9018 or 9019 | Ventilators | 2.5% |
| 15 | 9019 | BiPAP Machine | 2.5% |
| 16 | 9019 | (i) Non-invasive ventilation nasal or oronasal masks for ICU ventilators
(ii) Canula for use with ventilators |
2.5% |
| 17 | 9025 | Temperature check equipment | 2.5% |
| 18 | 8702 or 8703 | Ambulance | 6% |
CUSTOMS
CASE LAW
CALCUTTA HIGH COURT: M/S. BANKA BULLION PRIVATE LIMITED VERSUS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & ORS.
BRIEF: Search and seizure operation carried out and excess jewellery seized by the officers of the Enforcement Directorate under FEMA. The Search and seizure operation has been challenged through the writ petition in the hon’ble Calcutta High Court.
With regard to the search and seizure of the excess jewellery that has been seized by the Enforcement Directorate, it is to be noted that in the writ petition, the petitioner has relied on several documents to indicate that this “excess jewellery” was duly accounted for and had been sent for job work. In view of the Hon’ble High Court, the Enforcement Directorate should look into the documents filed in the writ petition and pass a reasoned order on whether these goods are stock-in-trade or not.
Our Comments: The Enforcement Directorate had look into the documents filed in the writ petition and finds that the same are duly accounted for, the same should be released in favour of the petitioner in accordance with law. The above enquiry and the reasoned order should be passed within a period of eight weeks from date.
The authorities are also directed to allow the authorized representative of the petitioner-company to have a lawyer of his choice to be present during the summons at an inaudible distance as per the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.
The petitioner shall cooperate with the authorities. The court further hasten to clarify that The court have not gone into the merits of this case. With these above observations and directions, the writ petition stands disposed of.
CUSTOMS
NOTIFICATIONS
EXCHANGE RATE NOTIFICATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY MINISTRY OF FINANCE, (DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE) (CENTRAL BOARD OF INDIRECT TAXES AND CUSTOMS) –Notification No. 54/2021-Customs (N.T.) dated 17.06.2021
OUR COMMENTS: The Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs vide Notification No. 54/2021-Customs (N.T.) dated 17.06.2021 has notified the rate of exchange of conversion of foreign currencies into Indian currency or vice versa:
SCHEDULE-I
| Sl. No. | Foreign Currency | Rate of exchange of one unit of foreign currency equivalent to Indian rupees | |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | |
| (a) | (b) | ||
| (For Imported Goods) | (For Exported Goods) | ||
| 1. | Australian Dollar | 57.50 | 55.05 |
| 2. | Bahraini Dinar | 202.05 | 189.20 |
| 3. | Canadian Dollar | 61.15 | 58.95 |
| 4. | Chinese Yuan | 11.65 | 11.30 |
| 5. | Danish Kroner | 12.10 | 11.65 |
| 6. | EURO | 90.00 | 86.85 |
| 7. | Hong Kong Dollar | 9.65 | 9.30 |
| 8. | Kuwaiti Dinar | 252.75 | 236.65 |
| 9. | New Zealand Dollar | 53.60 | 51.30 |
| 10. | Norwegian Kroner | 8.85 | 8.55 |
| 11. | Pound Sterling | 104.90 | 101.40 |
| 12. | Qatari Riyal | 20.60 | 19.20 |
| 13. | Saudi Arabian Riyal | 20.30 | 19.05 |
| 14. | Singapore Dollar | 56.10 | 54.20 |
| 15. | South African Rand | 5.45 | 5.10 |
| 16. | Swedish Kroner | 8.90 | 8.55 |
| 17. | Swiss Franc | 82.75 | 79.50 |
| 18. | Turkish Lira | 8.80 | 8.30 |
| 19. | UAE Dirham | 20.70 | 19.45 |
| 20. | US Dollar | 74.55 | 72.85 |
SCHEDULE-II
| Sl. No. | Foreign Currency | Rate of exchange of 100 units of foreign currency equivalent to Indian rupees | |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | |
| (a) | (b) | ||
| (For Imported Goods) | (For Export Goods) | ||
| 1. | Japanese Yen | 67.80 | 65.35 |
| 2. | Korean Won | 6.75 | 6.30 |
[For further details please refer the notification]
CUSTOMS
PUBLIC NOTICE/NOTIFICATION
Amendment in Appendix-2T of Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020
Our Comments: The Ministry of commerce & industry, Department of Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade vide Public notice No. 6/2015-2020 dated 14th June 2021 amended the Appendix-2T of Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020.
Through the Public Notice, the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India’s powers to issue/renew RCMCs for products falling under their jurisdiction are suspended and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is designated as the agency authorized to issue RCMCs for Cashew Kernels, Cashewnut Shell Liquid and Kardanol, with effect from 14th June 2021.
However, RCMCs already issued by Cashew Export Promotion Council of India shall remain valid for the rest of their validity period.
[For further details please refer the public notice]
Amendment in Export Policy of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir API.
Our Comments: The Ministry of commerce & industry, Department of Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade vide Notification No. 08/2015-2020 dated 14th June 2021 has notified amendment in Export Policy of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API):
| Sl. No. | ITC HS Codes | Present Policy | Revised Policy | Revised Policy |
| 207AA | Ex 293499
Ex 300490 |
Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) | Prohibited | Restricted |
Through this notification, the export of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) falling under the ITC (HS) Codes specified above or falling under any other HS Code has been put under Restricted category with effect from 14th June 2021.
Further, the export of Remdesivir Injections/API against the Advance Authorizations will not require a separate authorisation/ permission.
[For further details please refer the notification]
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