Follow Us :

As we all are aware of Section 269ST which was introduced by finance act, 2017 in Income tax act, 1961 by the central government in order to curb the tax evasion, regulation and circulation of Black money. This article will cover the detailed analysis of the said section alongwith some practical examples.

1. Basic Understanding of Section 269ST

As per Section 269ST, any person who enters into a transaction of Rs 2 Lakh or above in cash, will be liable to a penalty of an amount equivalent to the amount of transaction.

For example : If you buy an expensive watch for cash worth Rs 7 Lakh, it is the shopkeeper who will have to pay the tax (penalty) of Rs 7 Lakh. So, here the tax rate is 100%.

Though this new section on Cash Transaction limit sounds simple, we need to go through it in details, as I believe that this may have quite an impact on our daily financial lives.

2. What does Section 269ST say?

Section 269ST

With effective from 1st April, 2017, no person shall receive an amount of Rs 2 Lakh or more;

(A) in aggregate from a person in a day (or)

(B) in respect of a single transaction (or)

(C) in respect of transactions relating to one event or occasion from a person.

The new Cash transaction limit is not applicable, if a person receives the amount through an Account Payee Cheque (or) an Account Payee Bank Draft (or) through use of electronic clearing system through a bank account or through such other electronic mode as may be prescribed.

3. Non Applicability of Section 269ST

(i) any receipt by—

(a) Government;

(b) any banking company, post office savings bank or co-operative bank;

(ii) transactions of the nature referred to in section 269SS;

(iii) such other persons or class of persons or receipts, which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

4. Penalty Under Section 271DA:

Kindly note that Penalty u/s 271DA will be imposed on a person who receives a sum of Rs 2 Lakh and above in cash. The extent of penalty will be a sum equal to the amount of such receipt. The said penalty shall however not be levied if the person proves that there were good and sufficient reasons for such contravention. Further please note that this penalty shall be imposed by Joint Commissioner.

Cash Register

5. Practical examples on Section 269ST & Rs. 2 Lakh Cash Transaction Limit

A. Single Person: Cash Receipt of Rs 2 lakh or more, from a single person in a dayis not allowed even if the amount has been paid through multiple transactions during the day which are below Rs 2 lakh.

For example : Mr Modi buys a gold chain worth Rs 2 Lakh and pays the amount by cash to Mr Rahul on a single day in 4 equal installments of Rs 50,000 each. As Mr Rahul accepted cash worth Rs 2 Lakh from a single person and in a single day, section 269ST is applicable in this case. Mr Rahul has to pay a penalty of Rs 2 Lakh.

B. Single Transaction: Cash receipts of Rs 2 Lakh or more which are related to a single transaction are prohibited.

For example : Mr Kejriwal goes through a medical surgery and the hospital charges him a bill of Rs 4 Lakh. Kejriwal clears the bill in 4 installments of Rs 1 Lakh each on four different dates. Here, the cash receipts got by hospital are less than Rs 2 Lakh and have been received on different dates.

Whether this transaction violates section 269ST? – Yes. Hospital has to pay the penalty. Because, they received the payments with respect to single bill / transaction. So, splitting of payments over several days is prohibited. 

C. Single Event / Occasion: Cash transactions or cash receipts related to a single event or occasion, can not be more than Rs 2 Lakh.

For example : Nagachaitanya gets married to Samantha. On their wedding occasion, their relatives gifted Cash amount worth Rs 10 Lakh on different dates. Even if we assume that each person has gifted cash worth less than Rs 2 Lakh, are these receipts come under the purview of Section 269ST? Is penalty applicable?

Yes, penalty can be levied. Here, marriage is a ‘single occasion’ and cash gifts worth Rs 2 Lakh or more can not be received  from relatives and other persons.

6. Other Important Points on Section 269ST

  • Based on my interpretation of Section 269ST, payment modes like bearer cheque and self-cheque will also be considered on par with Cash based transactions only.
  • It has been clearly stated that penalty (if any) is chargeable to an individual who violates section 269ST, even if you do not have PAN and/or is not a tax assessee.
  • The restriction of receipt of money in Cash of Rs 2 Lakh or above in cash is applicable irrespective of whether it is for  personal / business purpose, capital or revenue in nature, tax-free or taxable income.
  • Kindly note that the payer of money is not liable to pay any penalty, it is the receiver of cash who has to bear the penalty u/s 271DA .
  • Donations in cash exceeding Rs 2,000 are not permitted (Donations can be claimed u/s 80G)
  • Premiums on Health insurance policies paid in cash can not be claimed u/s 80D
  • Loans or Deposits can not be repaid in cash in excess of Rs 20,000 or more
  • Payment of above Rs 10,000 per person, can not be made for any business payment towards any expenses (or) purchase of capital asset.
  • One should not accept a loan or deposit or sale consideration of immovable assets in cash in excess of Rs. 20,000.

7. Restriction on Capital Expenditure for Business in Cash above Rs. 10000/- [Section 43(1) and Section 32] :

  • Where an assessee incurs any expenditure for acquisition of a depreciable asset in respect of which a payment (or aggregate of payment made to a person in a day), otherwise than by an account payees cheque/ draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account or through such other electronic mode as may be prescribed, exceeds Rs. 10000/-, such a payment shall not be eligible for normal/ additional depreciation under section 32.

8. Reduction in the limit of Cash Payment to Rs. 10000/- in a Day [Section 40A(3) & 40A(3A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961:

  • The monetary limit on revenue expenditure in cash has been reduced from Rs. 20,000 to Rs.10,000(there is no change in the monetary limit pertaining to cash payment upto Rs. 35000/- to Transport Contractors). Few exceptions are also provided in Rule 6DD of the Income Tax Rules. Consequently, any expenditure in respect of which payment (or aggregate of payment made to a person in a day), otherwise than by an account payee cheque/ draft/ use of electronic clearing system through a bank account or through such other electronic mode as may be prescribed, exceeds Rs. 10000/-, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of such payment under section 30 to 37 of Income Tax Act, 1961.

(Republished with Amendment)

Join Taxguru’s Network for Latest updates on Income Tax, GST, Company Law, Corporate Laws and other related subjects.

113 Comments

  1. RANJAN KUMAR GUPTA says:

    point number 5 of your Article. it seems the interpretation of the law is incorrectly reported in your article . If I a person receive a gift a rupees 10 lakhs from different person on the occasion of the marriage then it will not attract tax if individual person ‘a person ‘ are different and single person has not gifted him more than 2 lakh rupees. Please check it 269ST.
    Ranjan Gupta

  2. GAJANAN VITTHAL SHINDE says:

    SEIZED VEHICLES SOLD TO ONE BUYER WHO BOUGHT 10 VEHICLES & PER VEHICLE PRICE SUM OF RS. 50000. TOTAL PAYMENT RECEIVED BY BUYER TO COMPANY RS. 500000 FOR DIFFERENT VEHICLE. SO WANT TO KNOW THAT THIS PENALTY ATTRACT TO THIS TRANSACTION TO COMPANY?

  3. SHreyans Shah says:

    One of our customers has deposited cash more than 2 Lakhs at a single time in our bank account withoutour knowledge. This payment was received against our progorma invoice as advance payment against sale of goods to the customer.
    Please inform, how this transaction shall be treated u/s 269 ST

  4. Mukesh Kumar says:

    Sir, in the example of wedding of Nagachaitanya, they have received gifts from different persons on a single occassions. as per act it should not be received from a single person. I think it is okay to receive 10 lacs from different persons subject to every person gifted less than rs. 2 laks.

    Please clarify.

  5. T.NAGAMANI says:

    we sale goods to a person in a year aggregate of
    Rs.8,00,000/- with several bills (bill value is now more to Rs.10,000/-) and a person paid by cash of Rs.10,000/- in a day of all of Rs.8,00,000/- section 269st attract in this case?

  6. AVADHESH says:

    सर जी स टी रजिस्टर्ड पर्सन हू क्या मैं किसी रजिस्टर्ड पर्सन को 190000 की सेल कैश में कर सकते है हर दिन या फिर साल में एक पर्सन को कितना कैश
    सेल कर सकते है

    1. madan says:

      also need this answer… If we raised 2 invoice to a person of RS 170000/- both at different dates , can we receive cash against these invoices.?

  7. MUKESHJAIN says:

    IF SHOPKEEPER SALES TRACTOR TO FARMER FOR RS600000/-AND THE FARMER DOES NOT HAVE AN PAN AND BANK ACCOUNT THEN HOW THE PAYMENT WILL BE TREATED.
    IS IT ATTRACTE 269ST.

  8. SHAIK MEHRAJ says:

    SIR IF CUSTOMER IS PURCHASING A GOLD OF 250000 OF SINGLE INVOICE AND FOR THAT HE IS PAYING 1,99,000/- CASH, AND FOR REMAINING AMOUNT HE IS GIVING HIS OLD GOLD JEWELLERY
    PLEASE SUGGEST FOR THAT WHAT TO DO ?

  9. P Vishalakshan says:

    A co-operative Thrift & Credit Society can accept FD amounting upto two lakh from a member in a single transaction in a day.
    Is it permissible u/s 269st

  10. Rohit Jain says:

    my business of agriculture equipment manufacturing so if i receive advance more than rs 20000.00 in cash from farmer for booking of agriculture machinery so will that attract penalty???

  11. ayan mitra says:

    in case of alimony for divorce case if husband wants to pay 25 lacs to wife is it possible to take the money , is it taxable for the wife ,

  12. Ca dharmendra goyal says:

    Sir in case of gift received from diffrent person below rs 2 lakh secetion 269ST not apply as clause c say from a person.please clarify it.

  13. GANDHI MOHAN BHARATI says:

    B. Single Transaction: This scare me and I am certain everyone. Which hospital charges less than 2 lakhs for a major surgery?

  14. ashwani.leela says:

    Dear Ankur Ji,

    I have one confusion regarding sec 43(1) and 40A(3). Some exemption given in Rule 6DD regarding sec 40A(3). Can you explain point no. 4 of rule 6DD which allow payment more then 10000 per day per person ? my email ID is ashwani.leela@gmail.com

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search Post by Date
March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031