From the desk of Mukesh Raj

Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on Daily Product Basis

March 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment

RBI/2009-10/339
UBD (PCB) BPD.Cir.No. 48/13.01.000 / 2009-10

March 4, 2010

Chief Executive Officer
All Primary (Urban) Cooperative Banks

Dear Sir,

Payment of Interest on Savings Bank Account on Daily Product Basis

Please refer to our circular UBD (PCB) BPD.Cir.No. 7/13.01.000/2009-10 dated September 1, 2009 advising banks to put in place requisite infrastructure so that transition to the revised procedure of calculating interest on balances in savings bank accounts on a daily product basis could be implemented smoothly.

2.  We advise that payment of interest on savings bank accounts may be made by banks on a daily product basis with effect from April 1, 2010.

Yours faithfully,

(A.K. Khound)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge

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Budget-2010- Direct Tax Proposals

February 27, 2010 · 2 Comments

TAX PROPOSALS:

  • The Centralized Processing Centre at Bengaluru is now fully functional and is processing around 20,000 returns daily. Two more Centres will also be established during the year.
  • The Income Tax department has introduced “Sevottam”, a pilot project at Pune, Kochi and Chandigarh through Aayakar Seva Kendras, which provide a single window system for registration of all applications including those for redressal of grievances as well as paper returns.
  • The income tax department to notify SARAL-II form for individual salaried taxpayers for the coming assessment year.
  • Scope of cases which may be admitted by the Settlement Commission expanded to include proceedings related to search and seizure cases pending for assessment.
  • Scope of Settlement Commission also expanded in respect of Central Excise and Customs to include certain categories of cases that hitherto fell outside its jurisdiction.
  • Bi-lateral discussions commenced to enhance the exchange of bank related and other information to effectively track tax evasion and identify undisclosed assets of resident Indians lying abroad.

Direct Taxes

•  Income tax slabs for individual taxpayers to be as follows :

Income upto Rs 1.6 lakh NIL
Income above Rs 1.6 lakh and upto 10 per cent
Rs. 5 lakh
Income above Rs.5 lakh and upto Rs. 20 per cent
8 lakh
Income above Rs. 8 lakh 30 per cent

•  Taxability on Taxable income of Rs. 10 Lakhs :

OLD NEW SAVING
MALE 210,120.00 158,620.00 51,500.00
FEMALE 207,030.00 155,530.00 51,500.00
SENIOR
CITIZEN 201,880.00 150,380.00 51,500.00
  • Deduction of an additional amount of Rs. 20,000 allowed, over and above the existing limit of Rs.1 lakh on tax savings, for investment in long-term infrastructure bonds as notified by the Central Government.
  • Besides contributions to health insurance schemes which is currently allowed as a deduction under the Income-tax Act, contributions to the Central Government Health Scheme also allowed as a deduction under the same provision.
  • Current surcharge of 10 per cent on domestic companies reduced to 7.5 per cent.
  • Rate of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) increased from the current rate of 15 per cent to 18 per cent of book profits.
  • Weighted deduction on expenditure incurred on in-house R&D enhanced from 150 per cent to 200 percent. Weighted deduction on payments made to National Laboratories, research associations, colleges, universities and other institutions, for scientific research enhanced from 125 per cent to 175 per cent.
  • Payment made to an approved association engaged in research in social sciences or statistical research to be allowed as a weighted deduction of 125 per cent. The income of such approved research association shall be exempt from tax.
  • Benefit of investment linked deduction under the Act extended to new hotels of two-star category.
  • Allow pending projects to be completed within a period of five years instead of four years for claiming a deduction of their profits, as a one time interim relief to the housing and real estate sector.
  • Limits for turnover over which accounts need to be audited enhanced to Rs. 60 lakh for businesses and to Rs. 15 lakh for professions.
  • Limit of turnover for the purpose of presumptive taxation of small businesses enhanced to Rs. 60 lakh.
  • If tax has been deducted on payment by way of any expense and is paid before the due date of filing the return, such expenditure to be allowed for deduction.
  • Interest charged on tax deducted but not deposited by the specified date to be increased from 12 per cent to 18 per cent per annum.
  • Increase in threshold limit for tax deduction at source :
Section Nature of Payment Existing Revised Applicability
threshold limit of threshold
Payment limit of
(Rupees) Payment
(Rupees)
194B Winnings from lottery 5,000 10,000 Ist July,
or crossword puzzle 2010
194BB Winnings from horse 2,500 5,000 Ist July,
race 2010
194C Payment to 20,000* 30,000* Ist July,
contractors 2010
50,000** 75,000** Ist July,
2010
194D Insurance 5,000 20,000 Ist July,
commission 2010
194H Commission or 2,500 5,000 Ist July,
Brokerage 2010
194-I Rent 1,20,000 1,80,000 Ist July,
2010
194J Fees for professional 20,000 30,000 Ist July,
or technical services 2010
  • No Capital gain transfer of assets as a result of conversion of small companies into Limited Liability Partnerships.
  • The advancement of any other object of general public utility” to be considered as “charitable purpose” even if it involves carrying on of any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business provided that the receipts from such activities do not exceed Rs.10 lakh in the year .
  • Proposals on direct taxes estimated to result in a revenue loss of Rs. 26,000 crore for the year.

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Budget-2010-Indirect Tax Proposals

February 27, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Indirect Taxes

Custom & Excise.

  • The standard rate on all non-petroleum products enhanced from 8 per cent to 10 per cent ad valorem.
  • The specific rates of duty applicable to portland cement and cement clinker also adjusted upwards proportionately. Similarly, the ad valorem component of excise duty on large cars, multi-utility vehicles and sports-utility vehicles increased by 2 percentage points to 22 per cent.
  • Restore the basic duty of 5 per cent on crude petroleum; 7.5 per cent on diesel and petrol and 10 per cent on other refined products. Central Excise duty on petrol and diesel enhanced by Re.1 per litre each.
  • Some structural changes in the excise duty on cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos to be made coupled with some increase in rates. Excise duty on all non-smoking tobacco such as scented tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco etc to be enhanced. Compounded levy scheme for chewing tobacco and branded unmanufactured tobacco based on the capacity of pouch packing machines to be introduced.

Agriculture & Related Sectors

  • Provide project import status with a concessional import duty of 5 per cent for the setting up of mechanised handling systems and pallet racking systems in ‘mandis’ or warehouses for food grains and sugar as well as full exemption from service tax for the installation and commissioning of such equipment.
  • Provide project import status at a concessional customs duty of 5 per cent with full exemption from service tax to the initial setting up and expansion of Cold storage, cold room including farm pre-coolers for preservation or storage of agriculture and related sectors produce ; and Processing units for such produce.
  • Provide full exemption from customs duty to refrigeration units required for the manufacture of refrigerated vans or trucks.
  • Provide concessional customs duty of 5 per cent to specified agricultural machinery not manufactured in India;
  • Provide central excise exemption to specified equipment for preservation, storage and processing of agriculture and related sectors and exemption from service tax to the storage and warehousing of their produce; and

• Provide full exemption from excise duty to trailers and semi-trailers used in agriculture.

  • Concessional import duty to specified machinery for use in the plantation sector to be, extended up to March 31, 2011 along with a CVD exemption.
  • To exempt the testing and certification of agricultural seeds from service tax.
  • The transportation by road of cereals, and pulses to be exempted from service tax. Transportation by rail to remain exempt.
  • To ease the cash flow position for small-scale manufacturers, they would be permitted to take full credit of Central Excise duty paid on capital goods in a single installment in the year of their receipt. Secondly, they would be permitted to pay Central Excise duty on a quarterly, rather than monthly, basis.

Environment

  • To build the corpus of the National Clean Energy Fund, clean energy cess on coal produced in India at a nominal rate of Rs.50 per tonne to be levied. This cess will also apply on imported coal.
  • Provide a concessional customs duty of 5 per cent to machinery, instruments, equipment and appliances etc. required for the initial setting up of photovoltaic and solar thermal power generating units and also exempt them from Central Excise duty. Ground source heat pumps used to tap geo-thermal energy to be exempted from basic customs duty and special additional duty.
  • Exempt a few more specified inputs required for the manufacture of rotor blades for wind energy generators from Central Excise duty.
  • Central Excise duty on LED lights reduced from 8 per cent to 4 per cent at par with Compact Fluorescent Lamps.
  • To remedy the difficulty faced by manufacturers of electric cars and vehicles in neutralising the duty paid on their inputs and components, a nominal duty of 4 per cent on such vehicles imposed. Some critical parts or sub-assemblies of such vehicles exempted from basic customs duty and special additional duty subject to actual user condition. These parts would also enjoy a concessional CVD of 4 %.
  • A concessional excise duty of 4 per cent provided to “soleckshaw”, a product developed by CSIR to replace manually-operated rickshaws. Its key parts and components to be exempted from customs duty.
  • Import of compostable polymer exempted from basic customs duty.

Infrastructure

  • Project import status to ‘Monorail projects for urban transport’ at a concessional basic duty of 5 per cent granted.
  • To allow resale of specified machinery for road construction projects on payment of import duty at depreciated value.
  • To encourage the domestic manufacture of mobile phones accessories, exemptions from basic, CVD and special additional duties are now being extended to parts of battery chargers and hands-free headphones. The validity of the exemption from special additional duty is being extended till March 31, 2011.

Medical Sector

  • Uniform, concessional basic duty of 5 per cent, CVD of 4 per cent with full exemption from special additional duty prescribed on all medical equipments. A concessional basic duty of 5 per cent is being prescribed on parts and accessories for the manufacture of such equipment while they would be exempt from CVD and special additional duty.
  • Full exemption currently available to medical equipment and devices such as assistive devices, rehabilitation aids etc. retained. The concession available to Government hospitals or hospitals set up under a statute also retained.
  • Specified inputs for the manufacture of orthopaedic implants exempted from import duty.

Infotainment

• To address the difficulties experienced by film industry in importing digital masters of films for duplication or distribution loaded on electronic medium vis-à-vis those imported on cinematographic film, owing to a differential customs duty structure, customs duty to be charged only on the value of the carrier medium. The same dispensation would apply to music and gaming software imported for duplication. In all such cases the value representing the transfer of intellectual property rights would be subjected to service tax.

  • Provide project import status at a concessional customs duty of 5 per cent with full exemption from special additional duty to the initial setting up “Digital Head End” equipment by multi-service operators.

Precious Metals

  • Rates on precious metals indexed as follows:

: On gold and platinum from Rs.200 per 10 grams to Rs.300 per 10 grams

: On silver from Rs.1,000 per kg to Rs.1,500 per kg.

  • Basic customs on Rhodium – a precious metal used for polishing jewellery reduced to 2 per cent.
  • Basic customs duty on gold ore and concentrates reduced from 2 per cent ad valorem to a specific duty of Rs.140 per 10 grams of gold content with full exemption from special additional duty. Further, the excise duty on refined gold made from such ore or concentrate reduced from 8 per cent to a specific duty of Rs.280 per 10 grams.

Other Proposals

  • Full exemption from import duty available to specified inputs or raw materials required for the manufacture of sports goods expanded to cover a few more items.
  • Basic customs duty on one of key components in production of micro-wave ovens, namely magnetrons, reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.
  • Value limit of Rs. 1 lakh per annum on duty-free import of commercial samples as personal baggage enhanced to Rs. 3 lakh per annum.
  • Complete exemption from special additional duty provided to goods imported in a pre-packaged form for retail sale. This would also cover mobile phones, watches and ready-made garments even when they are not imported in pre-packaged form. The refund-based exemption is also being retained for cases not covered by the new dispensation.
  • Toy balloons fully exempted from Central Excise duty.
  • Reduction in basic customs duty on long pepper from 70 per cent to 30 per cent;
  • Reduction in basic customs duty on asafoetida from 30 per cent to 20 per cent;
  • Reduction in central excise duty on replaceable kits for household type water filters other than those based on RO technology to 4 per cent;
  • Reduction in central excise duty on corrugated boxes and cartons from 8 per cent to 4 per cent;
  • Reduction in central excise duty on latex rubber thread from 8 per cent to 4 percent; and
  • Reduction in excise duty on goods covered under the Medicinal and Toilet Preparations Act from 16 per cent to 10 per cent.
  • Proposals relating to customs and central excise are estimated to result in a net revenue gain of Rs. 43,500 crore for the year.

Service Tax

  • Rate of tax on services retained at 10 per cent to pave the way forward for GST.
  • Certain services, hitherto untaxed, to be brought within the purview of the servicetax levy. These to be notified separately.
  • Process of refund of accumulated credit to exporters of services, especially in the area of Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing, made easy by making necessary changes in the definition of export of services and procedures.
  • Accredited news agencies which provide news feed online that meet certain criteria, exempted from service tax.
  • Proposals relating to service tax are estimated to result in a net revenue gain of Rs 3,000 crore for the year.
  • Proposals on direct taxes estimated to result in a revenue loss of Rs. 26,000 crore for the year.
  • Proposals relating to Indirect Taxes estimated to result in a net revenue gain of Rs.46,500 crore for the year. Taking into account the concessions being given in the tax proposals and measures taken to mobilise additional resources, the net revenue gain is estimated to be Rs. 20,500 crore for the year.

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New TDS Rules

February 21, 2010 · Leave a Comment

NEW TDS RULES NOTIFIED

Income-tax (First Amendment) Rules, 2010

Notification No. 9/2010/F.No. 142/27/2009-SO(TPL), dated 17-2-2010

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 295 of the Income-tax Act, 1961     (43 of 1961), the Central Board of Direct Taxes hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Income-tax Rules, 1962, namely:-

1.                  (1)        These rules may be called Income-tax (First Amendment) Rules, 2010.

(2)   They shall come into force from the 1st day of April, 2009.

2.                  In the Income-tax Rules, 1962, -

(a)                for rules 30, 31 and 31A the following rules shall be substituted, namely:-

“Time and mode of payment to Government account of tax deducted at source or tax paid under sub-section (1A) of section 192.

30. (1) All sums deducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 192 to 194, section 194A, section 194B, section 194BB, section 194C, section 194D, section 194E, section 194EE, section 194F, section 194G, section 194H, section 194-I, section 194J, section 194K, section 194LA, section 195, section 196A, section 196B, section 196C and section 196D shall be paid to the credit of the Central Government—

(a) in the case of deduction by or on behalf of the Government, on the same day;

(b) in the case of deduction by or on behalf of persons other than those mentioned in clause (a),—

(i) in respect of sums deducted in accordance with the provisions of section 193, section 194A, section 194C, section 194D, section 194E, section 194G, section 194H, section 194-I, section 194J, section 195, section 196A, section 196B, section 196C and section 196D—

(1) where the income by way of interest on securities referred to in section 193 or the income by way of interest referred to in section 194A or the sum referred to in section 194C or the income by way of insurance commission referred to in section 194D or the payment to non-resident sportsmen or sports associations referred to in section 194E or the income by way of commission, remuneration or prize on sale of lottery tickets referred to in section 194G or the income by way of commission or brokerage referred to in section 194H or the income by way of rent referred to in section 194-I or the income by way of fees for professional or technical services referred to in section 194J or the interest or any other sum referred to in section 195 or the income of a foreign company referred to in sub-section (2) of section 196A or the income from units referred to in section 196B or the income from foreign currency bonds or shares of an Indian company referred to in section 196C or the income of Foreign Institutional Investors from securities referred to in section 196D is credited by a person to the account of the payee as on the date up to which the accounts of such person are made, within two months of the expiration of the month in which that date falls;

(2) in any other case, within one week from the last day of the month in which the deduction is made; and

(ii) in respect of sums deducted in accordance with the other provisions within one week from the last day of the month in which the deduction is made:

Provided that the Assessing Officer may, in special cases, and with the approval of the Joint Commissioner—

(a) in cases falling under sub-clause (i), permit any person to pay the income-tax deducted from any income by way of interest, other than income by way of interest on securities or any income by way of insurance commission or any income by way of commission or brokerage referred to in section 194H quarterly on July 15, October 15, January 15 and April 15; and

(b) in cases falling under sub-clause (ii), permit an employer to pay income-tax deducted from any income chargeable under the head “Salaries” quarterly on June 15, September 15, December 15 and March 15.

(1A) All sums paid under sub-section (1A) of section 192 shall be paid to the credit of the Central Government—

(a) in the case of payment on behalf of the Government, on the same day;

(b) in all other cases, within one week from the last day of each month on which the income-tax is due under sub-section (1B) of section 192.

(2) The person responsible for making the deduction from any income chargeable under the head “Salaries” or, the person who pays tax, referred to in sub-section (1A) of section 192 or, in cases covered by sub-section (5) of section 192, the trustees shall pay the amount of tax so deducted to the credit of the Central Government by remitting it within the time prescribed in sub-rule (1) into any branch of the Reserve Bank of India or of the State Bank of India or of any authorized bank accompanied by an income-tax challan  :

Provided that where the deduction or payment, as the case may be, is made by or on behalf of Government, the amounts shall be credited within the time and in the manner aforesaid without the production of a challan.

(3) The person responsible for making deduction under sections 193, 194, 194A, 194B, 194BB, 194C, 194D, 194E, 194EE, 194F, 194G, 194H, 194-I, 194J, 194K, 195, 196A , 196B , 196C and 196D shall pay the amount of tax so deducted to the credit of the Central Government by remitting it within the time prescribed in sub-rule (1) into any branch of the Reserve Bank of India or of the State Bank of India or of any authorized bank accompanied by an income-tax challan, provided that where the deduction is made by or on behalf of Government the amount shall be credited within the time and in the manner aforesaid without the production of a challan.

Certificate of tax deducted at source or tax paid under sub-section (1A) of section 192.

31. (1) The certificate of deduction of tax at source or, the certificate of payment of tax by the employer on behalf of the employee, under section 203 to be furnished by any person deducting tax in accordance with the provisions of—

(a) section 192 shall be in Form No. 16 :

Provided that in the case of an individual, resident in India, where his income from salaries before allowing deductions under section 16 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 does not exceed rupees one lakh fifty thousand, the certificate of deduction of tax at source shall be in Form No. 16AA;

(b)               section 193, section 194, section 194A, section 194B, section 194BB, section 194C, section 194D, section 194E, section 194EE, section 194F, section 194G, section 194-I, section 194J, section 194K,section 194LA, section 195, section 196A, section 196B, section 196C and section 196D shall be in Form No. 16A.

(2) The certificate mentioned in sub-rule (1) shall be furnished within a period of one month from the end of the month during which the credit has been given or the sums have been paid or, as the case may be, a cheque or warrant for payment of any dividend has been issued to a shareholder:

Provided that where the income by way of interest on securities referred to in section 193 or the income by way of interest referred to in section 194A or the sum referred to in section 194C or the income by way of insurance commission referred to in section 194D or the payment to non-resident sportsmen or sports associations referred to in section 194E or the income by way of commission, remuneration or prize on sale of lottery tickets referred to in section 194G or the income by way of commission or brokerage referred to in section 194H or the income by way of rent referred to in section 194-I or the income by way of fees for professional or technical services referred to in section 194J or the interest or any other sum referred to in section 195 or the income of a foreign company referred to in  sub-section (2) of section 196A or the income from units referred to in section 196B or the income from foreign currency bonds or shares of an Indian company referred to in section 196C or the income of Foreign Institutional Investors from securities referred to in section 196D is credited by a person to the account of the payee as on the date up to which the account of such person are made, the certificate under sub-rule (1) shall be issued within a week after the expiry of two months from the month in which income is so credited :

Provided further that the certificate in the case of deduction of tax under sub-section (1) of section 192  or, payment of tax by the employer on behalf of the employee, under sub-section (1A) of that section or section 194D may be furnished within one month from the close of the financial year in which such deduction was made :

Provided also that the certificate in cases, other than those mentioned in the second proviso, where payment of income-tax deducted is permitted quarterly in accordance with clause (a) of the proviso to clause (b) of sub-rule (1) of rule 30 may be furnished within fourteen days from the date of payment of income- tax:

Provided also that where more than one certificate is required to be furnished to a payee for deductions of income-tax made during a financial year, the person deducting the tax, may on request from such payee, issue within one month from the close of such financial year a consolidated certificate in Form No. 16A for tax deducted during whole of such financial year.

(3) Where in a case, the TDS certificate issued under this rule is lost, the person deducting tax at source may issue a duplicate certificate of deduction of tax at source on a plain paper giving necessary details as contained in Form No. 16 or Form No. 16A , as the case may be.

(4) The Assessing Officer before giving credit for the tax deducted at source on the basis of duplicate certificate referred to in sub-rule (3), shall get the payment certified from the Assessing Officer designated in this behalf by the Chief Commissioner or the Commissioner and shall also obtain an Indemnity Bond from the assessee.

Quarterly statement of deduction of tax under sub-section (3) of section 200.

31A.(1) Every person, being a person responsible for deducting tax under Chapter XVII-B shall, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 200, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Director-General of Income-tax (Systems) or the person authorized by the Director General of Income-tax (Systems), quarterly statement—

(i) in Form No. 24Q in respect of deduction of tax at source under sub-sections (1) and (1A) of section 192; and

(ii) in Form No. 26Q in respect of other cases of deduction of tax at  source,

on or before the 15th July, the 15th October, the 15th January in respect of the first three quarters of the financial year and on or before the 15th June following the last quarter of the financial year :

Provided that where,—

(a)  the deductor is an office of Government; or

(b) the deductor is a company; or

(c ) the deductor is a person required to get his accounts audited under section 44AB in the immediately preceding financial year; or

(d) the number of deductees’ records in a quarterly statement for any quarter of the immediately preceding financial year is equal to or more than fifty,

the person responsible for deducting tax at source, and the principal officer in  the case of a company shall deliver or cause to be delivered such quarterly statements on computer media (3.5” 1.44 MB floppy diskette or CD-ROM of 650 MB capacity):

Provided further that a person other than a person referred to in the first proviso, responsible for deducting tax at source, may at his option, deliver or cause to be delivered the quarterly statements on computer media (3.5” 1.44 MB floppy diskette or CD-ROM of 650 MB capacity):

Provided also that a person responsible for deducting tax at source from the payments referred to in rule 37A shall furnish quarterly statements in accordance with the provisions of rule 37A and rule 37B.

(2) The person responsible for deducting tax at source and preparing quarterly statements shall,—

(i) quote his tax deduction and collection account number (TAN) and permanent account number (PAN) in the quarterly statement:

Provided that the permanent account number shall not be required to be quoted where tax has been deducted by or on behalf of the Government;

(ii) quote the permanent account number of all persons in respect of whose income, tax has been deducted:

Provided that the permanent account number shall not be quoted in respect of the persons to whom the second proviso to sub-section (5B) of section 139A of the Act applies;

(iii) furnish particulars of the tax paid to the Central Government.

(3) The person responsible for deducting tax at source and preparing quarterly statements on computer media shall, in addition to the provisions in sub-rule  (2),—

(i) prepare the quarterly statement as per the data structure provided by the e-filing Administrator designated by the Board for the purposes of administration of Electronic Filing of Returns of Tax Deducted at Source Scheme, 2003 supported by a declaration in Form No. 27A in paper format:

Provided that in case any compression software has been used for preparing the quarterly statement on computer media, such compression software shall be furnished on the same computer media;

(ii) affix a label indicating name, permanent account number, tax deduction and collection account number and address of the person responsible for deduction of tax at source, the period to which the statement pertains and the volume number of the said computer media in case more than one volume of such media is used”.

(b)         after rule 31A the following rule shall be inserted, namely:-

“Quarterly statement of collection of tax under sub-section (3) of section 206C.

31AA. (1) Every person, being a person responsible for collecting tax under section 206C shall, in accordance with the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 206C, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Director-General of Income-tax (Systems) or the person authorized by the Director General of Income-tax (Systems), quarterly statement in Form No. 27EQ on or before the 15th July, the 15th October, the 15th January in respect of the first three quarters of the financial year and on or before the 30th April following the last quarter of the financial year :

Provided that where,—

(a) the collector is an office of Government; or

(b) the collector is a company; or

(c) the collector is a person required to get his accounts audited under section 44AB in the immediately preceding financial year; or

(d) the number of collectees’ records in a quarterly statement for any quarter of the immediately preceding financial year is equal to or more than fifty,

the person responsible for collecting tax at source, and the principal officer in the case of a company shall deliver or cause to be delivered such quarterly statements on computer media (3.5” 1.44 MB floppy diskette or CD-ROM of 650 MB capacity):

Provided further that a person other than a person referred to in the first proviso, responsible for collecting tax at source, may at his option, deliver or cause to be delivered the quarterly statements on computer media (3.5” 1.44 MB floppy diskette or CD-ROM of 650 MB capacity).

(2) The person responsible for collecting tax at source and preparing quarterly statements shall,—

(i) quote his tax deduction and collection account number (TAN) and permanent account number (PAN) in the quarterly statement:

Provided that the permanent account number shall not be required to be quoted where tax has been collected by or on behalf of the Government;

(ii) quote the permanent account number of all persons in respect of whose income, tax has been collected;

(iii) furnish particulars of the tax paid to the Central Government.

(3) The person responsible for collecting tax at source and preparing quarterly statements on computer media shall, in addition to the provisions in sub-rule  (2),—

(i) prepare the quarterly statement as per the data structure provided by the e-filing Administrator designated by the Board for the purposes of administration of Electronic Filing of Returns of Tax Collected at Source Scheme, 2005 supported by a declaration in Form No. 27B in paper format:

Provided that in case any compression software has been used for preparing the quarterly statement on computer media, such compression software shall be furnished on the same computer media;

(ii)                affix a label indicating name, permanent account number, tax deduction and collection account number and address of the person responsible for collection of tax at source, the period to which the statement pertains and the volume number of the said computer media in case more than one volume of such media is used.”

(c)          after rule 37 the following rule shall be inserted, namely:-

“Returns regarding tax deducted at source in the case of non-residents.

37A. The person making deduction of tax in accordance with sections 193, 194, 194E, 195, 196A, 196B, 196C and 196D of the Act from any payment made to—

(i) a person, not being a company, who is a non-resident or a resident but not ordinarily resident, or

(ii) a company which is neither an Indian company nor a company which has made the prescribed arrangements for the declaration and payment of dividends within India ;

shall send within fourteen days from the end of the quarter a statement in Form No. 27Q to the Director General of Income-tax (Systems) or the person or agency authorized by the Director General of Income-tax (Systems) referred to in rule 36A :

Provided that where the income by way of interest on securities referred to in section 193 or the payment to non-resident sportsmen or sports associations referred to in section 194E or the interest or any other sum referred to in section 195 or the income of a foreign company referred to in sub-section (2) of section 196A or the income from units referred to in section 196B or the income from foreign currency bonds or shares of an Indian company referred to in section 196C or the income of Foreign Institutional Investors from securities referred to in section 196D is credited by a person to the account of the payee as on the date up to which the accounts of such person are made, the statement in Form No. 27Q shall be sent within fourteen days after the expiry of two months from the month in which income is so credited.”

(d) for rules 37CA and 37D the following rules shall be substituted, namely:-

“Time and mode of payment to Government account of tax collected at source under section 206C.

37CA. (1) All sums collected in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (1C) of section 206C shall be paid to the credit of the Central Government within one week from the last day of the month in which the collection is made.

(2) The person responsible for making collection under sub-section (1) or sub-section (1C) of section 206C shall pay the amount of tax so collected to the credit of the Central Government by remitting it within the time prescribed in sub-rule (1) into any branch of the Reserve Bank of India or of the State Bank of India or of any authorized bank accompanied by an income-tax challan:

Provided that where the collection is made by or on behalf of the Government, the amount shall be credited within the time and in the manner aforesaid without the production of a challan.

Certificate for collection of tax at source under section 206C (5).

37D. (1) The certificate of collection of tax at source under sub-section (5) of section 206C to be furnished by any person collecting tax at source under sub-section (1) or sub-section (1C) of that section shall be inForm No. 27D.

(2) The certificate referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be furnished within a period of one month from the end of the month during which the amount is debited to the account of the buyer or licensee or lessee or payment is received from the buyer or licensee or lessee, as the case may be:

Provided that where more than one certificate is required to be furnished to a buyer or licensee or lessee for tax collected at source in respect of the period ending on the 30th September and the 31st March in each financial year, the person collecting the tax, may on request from such buyer or licensee or lessee , issue within one month from the end of such period, a consolidated certificate in Form No. 27D for tax collected during whole of such period.

(3) Where in a case, the certificate for tax collected at source issued under this rule is lost, the person collecting tax at source may issue a duplicate certificate of collection of tax at source on a plain paper giving necessary details as contained in Form No. 27D.

(4) The Assessing Officer before giving credit for the tax collected at source on the basis of duplicate certificate referred to in sub-rule (3), shall get the payment certified from the Assessing Officer designated in this behalf by the Chief Commissioner or Commissioner and shall also obtain an Indemnity Bond from the assessee. ”;

(e)        for Form No.16 and Form no. 16A the following forms shall be substituted, namely:-

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Problems faced by exporters in availing refund of excess credit

January 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment



Circular No. 120/01/2010-ST

F.No.354/268/2009-TRU

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

(Tax Research Unit)

*****

New Delhi dated the 19th January, 2010.

To

All Chief Commissioners of Central Excise,

All Chief Commissioners of Customs,

All Chief Commissioners of Customs &Central Excise,

Director General of Service Tax,

All Commissioners of Service Tax,

Commissioner (Service Tax), CBEC.

Madam/Sir,

Subject:  Problems faced by exporters in availing refund of excess credit – regarding

CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 permit taking of credit of inputs and input services which are used for providing output services or output goods.   In order to zero-rate the exports, Rule 5 of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004 provides that such accumulated credit can be refunded to the exporter subject to stipulated conditions. Notification No. 5/2006-CE (NT) dated 14.03.2006 provides the conditions, safeguards and limitations for obtaining refund of such credit.

2.         It has been represented by the exporters of services (mainly the call centres or the BPOs) that they are facing difficulties in getting refund under the said notification.  In order to ascertain the causes for such delay a number of meetings were held with the refund sanctioning authorities.  During these meetings the officers pointed out the following legal/procedural impediments partly responsible for such delays:

(a)     The major reason causing delay in granting refunds as well as rejecting the claims is that as per the wordings of the notification, refund is permitted of duties/taxes paid only on such inputs/input services which are either used in the manufacture of export goods or used in providing the output services exported.  As against this, the phrases used in the CENVAT Credit Rules permit credit of services used “whether directly or indirectly, in or in relation to the manufacture of final product” or “for providing output service”.   The field formations tend to take the view that for eligibility of refund, the nexus between inputs or input services and the final goods/services has to be closer and more direct than that is required for taking credit.  Many refund claims are being rejected on this ground.

(b)     Even if a nexus is considered acceptable, the officers processing the refund claims find it difficult to co-relate goods or services covered under a particular invoice with a specific consignment of export goods or specific instance of export of service.

(c)     As per the notification, the claims are to be filed quarterly.  For large exporters, the procurement of inputs/input services in a quarter is substantial resulting in each refund claim being accompanied with hundreds of invoices.  Verification of these documents with corroborative documents showing exports (such as export invoices, bank certificates, shipping bills) consumes a long time;

(d)     Though the notification prescribes that refund claims should be filed quarterly in a financial year, it is not clear whether the refund is eligible only of that credit which is accumulated during the said quarter or the accumulated credit of the past period can also be refunded; and

(e)     In certain cases, the invoices accompanying the refund claim are incomplete in as much as either the description of service or its classification is not mentioned.  In some cases, even the name of the receiver of the inputs/input services is also not mentioned.

3.         The matter has been examined.  At the outset it is necessary to understand that the entire purpose of Notification No. 5/2006-CX (NT) is to refund the accumulated input credit to exporters and zero-rate the exports.  Accumulated credit and delayed sanction of refund causes cash flow problems for the exporters.   Therefore, the sanctioning authorities are directed to dispose of the refund claims expeditiously based on the following clarifications to the issues raised in paragraph 2 above.

3.1       Use of different phrases in rules and notification [para 2(a)]:

3.1.1   The primary objection indicated by the field formations is that the language of Notification No. 5/2006-CX (NT) permits refund only for such services that are used in providing output services.  In other words, the view being taken is that to be eligible for refund, input services should be directly used in the output service exported.   As regards the extent of nexus between the inputs/input services and the export goods/services, it must be borne in mind that the purpose is to refund the credit that has already been taken. There cannot be different yardsticks for establishing the nexus for taking of credit and for refund of credit.  Even if different phrases are used under different rules of CENVAT Credit Rules, they have to be construed in a harmonious manner.  To elaborate, the definition of input services for manufacturer of goods, as given in Rule 2 (l) (ii) of CENVAT Credit Rules, 2004, includes within its ambit all services used “in or in relation to the manufacture of final products” and includes services used “directly or indirectly”. Similarly Rule 2 (l) (i) of CENVAT Credit Rules also gives wide scope to the input services for provider of output services by including in its ambit services “used….for providing an output service”.   Similar is the case for inputs.

3.1.2   Therefore, the phrase, “used in” mentioned in Notification No. 5/2006-CX (NT) to show the nexus also needs to be interpreted in a harmonious manner.   The following test can be used to see whether sufficient nexus exists.  In case the absence of such input/input service adversely impacts the quality and efficiency of the provision of service exported, it should be considered as eligible input or input service.   In the case of BPOs/call centres, the services directly relatable to their export business are renting of premises; right to use software; maintenance and repair of equipment; telecommunication facilities; etc.   Further, in the instant example, services like outdoor catering or rent-a-cab for pick-up and dropping of its employees to office would also be eligible for credit on account of the fact that these offices run on 24 x 7 basis and transportation and provision of food to the employees are necessary pre-requisites which the employer has to provide to its employees to ensure that output service is provided efficiently. Similarly, since BPOs/call centres require a large manpower, service tax paid on manpower recruitment agency would also be eligible both for taking the credit and the refund thereof.  On the other hand, activities like event management, such as company-sponsored dinners/picnics/tours, flower arrangements, mandap keepers, hydrant sprinkler systems (that is, services which can be called as recreational or used for beautification of premises), rest houses etc. prima facie would not appear to impact the efficiency in providing the output services, unless adequate justification is shown regarding their need.

3.2       One-to-one co-relation between inputs and outputs and scrutiny of voluminous record [para 2(b) & (c) above]:

3.2.1   Similar problem of co-relation and scrutiny of large number of documents was being faced in another scheme [Notification No. 41/2007-ST dated 06.10.2007] which grants refund of service tax paid on services used by an exporter after the goods have been removed from the factory.  In Budget 2009, the scheme was simplified by making a provision of self-certification [Notification No. 17/2009-ST] whereunder an exporter or his Chartered Accountant is required to certify the invoices about the co-relation and the nexus between the inputs/input services and the exports.  The exporters are also advised to provide a duly certified list of invoices.  The departmental officers are only required to make a basic scrutiny of the documents and, if found in order, sanction the refund within one month.  The reports from the field show that this has improved the process of grant of refund considerably.  It has, therefore, been decided that similar scheme should be followed for refund of CENVAT credit under notification No. 5/2006-CE (NT).  The procedure prescribed herein should be followed in all cases including the pending claims with immediate effect.

3.2.2   Procedure: The exporter should, alongwith the refund claim, file a declaration containing the following details:

(Rs. in lakh)

Details of goods/services exported on which refund of input credit is claimed

S.

No.

Details of shipping bill/ Bill

of export/export documents etc.

Details of input credit on which refund claimed
(1) (2) (3)
No. Date Date of export order Goods/ service exported Invoice No., date and Amount Name of service provider/ supplier of goods Service tax/

Central

Excise Regn. No. of service provider/ supplier of goods

 Details of service/

goods

provided with classifi-

cation under FA 1994/

Central

Excise

Tariff

 Service tax/

Central

Excise

duty payable

 Date and details of payment made to service provider
1.
2.
Documents attached to evidence the

amount of service tax paid

 Total export during the period for which refund is claimed Total domestic clearances during the period for which refund is claimed Total amount of input credit claimed as refund
(4) (5) (6) (7)

The declaration should be certified by a person authorized by the Board of Directors (in the case of a limited company) or the proprietor/partner (in case of firms/partnerships) if the amount of refund claimed is less than Rs.5 lakh in a quarter.  In case the refund claim is in excess of Rs.5 lakh, the declaration should also be certified by the Chartered Accountant who audits the annual accounts of the exporter for the purposes of Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), as the case may be.

The Assistant or Deputy Commissioner may, after verification of the fact that the input credit has been correctly claimed, sanction the refund on the basis of the declaration.  In case there is a doubt about the correctness of the claim of CENVAT credit on any service, the undisputed amount may be refunded and the balance claim may be decided after following the dispute settlement process.

3.3        Quarterly refund claims [para 2(d) above]:

As regards the quarterly filing of refund claims and its applicability, since no bar is provided in the notification, there should not be any objection in allowing refund of credit of the past period in subsequent quarters.  It is possible that during certain quarters, there may not be any exports and therefore the exporter does not file any claim.  However, he receives inputs/input services during this period.  To illustrate, an exporter may avail of Rs.1 crore as input credit in the April – June quarter.  However, no exports may be made in this quarter, so no refund is claimed.  The input credit is thus carried over to the July-September quarter, when exports of Rs.50 lakh and domestic clearances of Rs.25 lakh are made.  The exporter should be permitted a refund of Rs.66 lakh (as his export turnover is 66% of the total turnover in the quarter) from the Cenvat credit of Rs.1 crore availed in April-June quarter.  The illustration prescribed under para 5 of the Appendix to the notification should be viewed in this light.  However, in case of service providers exporting 100% of their services, such disputes should not arise and refund of CENVAT credit, irrespective of when he has taken the credit, should be granted if otherwise in order.    Such exporters may be asked to file a declaration to the effect that they are exporting 100% of their services, and, only if it is noticed subsequently that the exporter had provided services domestically, the proportional refund to such extent can be demanded from him.

3.4       Incomplete invoices [para 2(e) above]:

In case of incomplete invoices, the department should take a liberal view in view of various judicial pronouncements by Courts.  It had earlier been prescribed in circular No.106/09/2008-ST dated 11.12.2008 that the invoices/challans/bills should be complete in all respect.  This circular was issued with reference to notification No.41/2007 dated 06.10.2007 as specific services eligible for refund under the notification has been specified.  Thus, a stricter requirement exists under the said notification for ascertaining the actual service which has been used in the export of goods.  In the case of refund under Rule 5, (i) so far as the nature of the service which has been received by the exporter can be ascertained; (ii) tax paid therein is clearly mentioned; and (iii) other details as required under rule 4(a) are mentioned, the refund should be allowed if the input service has a nexus with the service/goods exported as discussed earlier.  In any case, the suggested Chartered Accountant’s certificate should clearly bring out the nature of the service and this will assist the officer in taking a decision.

4.         The instructions contained in this circular should be implemented with immediate effect and the pending claims may be disposed of accordingly.   It is expected that with the clarifications provided and liberalization of procedure, most of the impediments to smooth and expeditious disposal of exporters’ claims for refund of accumulated credit would be removed.   The Board, therefore, expects that the concerned refund sanctioning authorities should decide all claims of exporters within 30 days of their receipt as has been prescribed in notification No. 17/2009-ST.  Any lapse in this regard would be viewed seriously.    In case of any doubt, an immediate reference may be made to the Board.

Yours faithfully,

(Roopam Kapoor)

Officer on Special Duty (TRU)

Tel: 23095590

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