Increasing the threshold limit for maintenance of books of accounts in case of Individuals and Hindu undivided family
The existing provisions of clause (i) and clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 44AA of the Act cast an obligation on every person carrying on business or profession [other than those mentioned in sub-section (1) such as legal, medical, engineering or architectural profession or the profession of accountancy or technical consultancy or interior decoration or any other profession as is notified by the Board in the Official Gazette] to maintain such books of accounts and documents in the previous year to enable the Assessing Officer to compute his total income in accordance with the provisions of Act, provided that the income and total sales or turn over or gross receipts, etc specified in said clauses exceeds rupees one lakh twenty thousand and rupees ten lakh, respectively.
In order to reduce the compliance burden, it is proposed to amend the provisions of section 44AA to increase monetary limits of income and total sales or turn over or gross receipts, etc specified in said clauses for maintenance of books of accounts from one lakh twenty thousand rupees to two lakh fifty thousand rupees and from ten lakh rupees to twenty-five lakh rupees, respectively in the case of Individuals and Hindu undivided family carrying on business or profession.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years.
[Clause 19]
Extract of relevant clause from Finance Bill, 2017
Amendment of section 44AA.
19. In section 44AA of the Income-tax Act, in sub-section (2), the following provisos shall be inserted with effect from the 1st day of April, 2018, namely:—
‘Provided that in the case of a person being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, the provisions of clause (i) and clause (ii) shall have effect, as if for the words “one lakh twenty thousand rupees”, the words “two lakh fifty thousand rupees” had been substituted:
Provided further that in the case of a person being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, the provisions of clause (i) and clause (ii) shall have effect, as if for the words “ten lakh rupees”, the words “twenty-five lakh rupees” had been substituted.’.
The new threshold limit for Audit is applicable from 01/04/2017 or 01/04/2018 ? What is the new threshold limit ?
Budget has not been framed by studying or difficulties suffered by middle class assessees.There should have been increse in the threshold limit of atleast 4 lacs for the general and salaried people