Government's latest scheme to declare black money opens Saturday: Adhia

There will be no immunity from criminal acts like Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Naroctics Act or for benami properties, says Hasmukh Adhia

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) — which is being slated as another chance for people to come clean on their unaccounted income — will come into effect from December 17 (Saturday) and will remain open for over three months, a top official said on Friday.

"The PMGKY will start from tomorrow (Saturday), and the last date for disclosures is March 31, 2017. People have three and a half months to declare their untaxed money. A declaration can be given before the Income Tax officer," Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia told media persons here.

"No prosecution will be carried on the basis of such disclosures. The declarations made under the the law will be kept a secret. The declarations will also not be used for payment towards service tax, excise duty, etc.," he added.

However, there would be no immunity from criminal acts like Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Naroctics Act or for holding 'benami' (by proxy) properties and smuggling offences, he said.

"Investments in taxation regime or Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana is the last chance for people. Any person or company can disclose unaccounted income and pay 49.9%, to be precise, as tax, surcharge and penalty along with 25% amount in interest-free deposits for four years," Adhia said.

The scheme allows people to deposit money in their accounts by paying 50% of the total amount — 30% as tax, 10% as penalty and 33% of the taxed amount, that is 10%, as Garib Kalyan Cess.

This amount is proposed to be utilised for the schemes of irrigation, housing, toilets, infrastructure, primary education, primary health and livelihood.

The scheme is a part of the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, passed by the Parliament on November 29 to amend the income tax laws to provide for stiffer penal tax in the wake of the November 8 demonetisation.

Cameras were asked to be turned off during the question answer session with the Revenue Secretary.