Income Tax Department has notified the file format (data structure) for preparation of Annual Information Returns. Filers can prepare the AIR as per the file format using in-house software or any other third party software or the return preparation utility developed by NSDL (AIR RPU) and submit the same to any of the TIN-FCs established by NSDL or directly upload through the NSDL-TIN website.
In MICR technology the information is printed on the instrument with a special type of ink which is made up of magnetic material. On insertion of the instrument in the machine, the printed information is read by the machine. MICR system is beneficial as it minimizes chances of error, clearing of cheques becomes easy and transfer of funds becomes faster in order to facilitate operations. For details of MICR branch codes please click on the link below.
As against 6000 surveys conducted u/s 133A in 2004-05 the Department has closely followed the data coming from all the scheduled banks and zeroed in on potential cases and organised 7400 surveys in 2005-06 and detected undisclosed income to the tune of Rs 2300 Crore. Last fiscal it was only 6200 Surveys but detected Rs 2600 Cr undisclosed income. With the Board putting additional officers at the disposal of CCITs for monitoring BCTT, the monthly mop-up which used to average about Rs 36 Cr in 2005-06 has gone up to Rs 46 Cr last fiscal. In fact, the current fiscal opened the account with a collection of Rs 60 Cr in April. Last year BCTT collections were Rs 535 Crore.
Employing muscle power to recover vehicle loans cannot be permitted in a civilised society where there is effective rule of law – procedure of law may be slow, but that is no excuse for use of force: National Consumer Commission. It is well known that the private banks use muscle power to recover loans. The National Consumer Redressal Commission in a recent order came down heavily on such barbaric methods of collection. What more, the Commission held that even the hire purchase agreement is ab initio void.
Making things easier for the business process outsourcing (BPO) units, other call centres and the manufacturing sector, the government is likely to amend Section 66 of the Factories Act, 1948 to enable these entities to put women on night shifts, particularly between 7 pm and 6 am, which is otherwise prohibited under the Act.
The government is likely to introduce biometric PAN cards soon to address the problem of duplicate cards. A joint working group in the ministry of finance has given its report after obtaining technical and commercial proposals from leading biometric solutions providers, finance minister P Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour. “The report is at present under consideration,” the minister said. He said the number of individuals suspected to have duplicate PANs is estimated to be 13,10,127 throughout the country.
The Income Tax Department has moved the Supreme Court against the ruling by a quasi-judicial body which held that foreign firms are not liable to pay tax on assignment amount charged from their Indian subsidiaries if contracts are signed outside the country. The I-T department challenged the decision of Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) in a case concerning Swiss firm Honeywell Technologies SARL, which had received a fee from Honeywell Turbo India for supplying equipment to Tata Motors.
Income Tax officers’ lack of understanding regarding e-filing processes causes frustration among taxpayers, highlighting inefficiencies in the system.
The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides for use of Digital Signatures on the documents submitted in electronic form in order to ensure the security and authenticity of the documents filed electronically. Certification Agencies are appointed by the office of the Controller of Certification Agencies (CCA) under the provisions of IT Act, 2000. There are a total of seven Certification Agencies authorised by the CCA to issue the Digital Signature Certificates.
Fixed deposit holders will not be allowed to avail any credit against taxes paid on their interest earnings if banks do not quote their PAN numbers. Many fixed deposit holders could be left in lurch as income tax department has tightened rules on TDS or tax deducted at source. Banks are supposed to cut tax at source for interest income above Rs 10,000. But in 2005-06 less than half of non-salaried income had PAN numbers and in future these will not be eligible for refunds.
