Page 9 - Income Tax

Simplification of policies to be govt's focus for taxation in 2025

Simplification of direct and indirect tax policies will be the main focus area for the government in the New Year after beginning the review of the six-decade-old income tax law and rationalisation of the GST rate in 2024. With monthly gross GST collections stabilising at around Rs 1.8 lakh crore and gross direct tax collections steadily rising at 20 per cent rate, the effort to ease compliance burden for individuals as well as corporates will gain traction. On the GST front, individuals are awaiting a tax cut in life and health insurance premiums, which will bring down the cost of insurance, while businesses are awaiting the operationalisation of the GST Tribunal for faster dispute resolution. Also, the work on rationalising GST rates and slabs has been put in motion with a group of ministers (GoM) deliberating on the changes, but a final decision is expected only by the GST Council, comprising the Centre and state finance ministers. Currently, GST is a four-tier tax structure wit

These rule changes will impact how you file Income Tax returns in 2025

July 2024 steps will shape tax deductions and exemptions that can be claimed when filing an Income Tax Return (ITR) in July 2025

Budget 2025: Govt may cut income tax rates to lift consumption, says report

The move could benefit tens of millions of taxpayers, especially city dwellers burdened by high living costs, if they opt for a 2020 tax system that strips exemptions like housing rentals

52 kg gold, Rs 9.86 crore cash found in abandoned SUV near Bhopal forest

52 kg of gold and Rs 9.86 crore in cash were found in an abandoned SUV near a Bhopal forest, raising suspicions of links to ongoing raids on real estate businesses

Telangana urges Centre to simplify IT slabs, reduce corp tax for biz ease

Telangana on Friday urged the Centre to simplify the Income Tax slabs and reduce corporate tax rates to enhance ease of doing business. In his speech at the pre-Budget meeting of the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said streamlining IT and GST filing processes is vital as these processes currently consume weeks for mid-sized and large businesses. Expanding the tax base through digital tracking of financial transactions and encouraging voluntary compliance are also key measures, he opined. "Reforms to the Income Tax Act are a welcome step. India's current tax system is complex, leading to compliance burdens for individuals and businesses alike. Telangana urges simplification of tax slabs and reduction of corporate tax rates to enhance ease of doing business," Bhatti said. Telangana supports a realistic fiscal deficit target of 4.5 per cent of GDP to sustain momentum in infrastructure and ...

Only 6.68% of population filed income tax return in FY24: Govt tells House

Only 6.68 per cent of India's population filed income tax returns in 2023-24 fiscal, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said there is an increase in filing ITR with over 8.09 crore income tax returns were filed in fiscal 2023-24, up from over 7.40 crore in 2022-23. In FY22, the number of ITRs filed was over 6.96 crore, up from over 6.72 crore in FY21 and over 6.48 crore in FY20. "In FY 2023-24, the percentage of population that files Income Tax Return is 6.68 per cent. (In FY 2023-24, the total number of persons filling income tax return is 8,09,03,315)," Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. He further said total number of individuals reporting zero taxable income in their ITRs is 4.90 crore in Assessment Year 2023-24, up from 4.64 lakh in 2022-23.

FinMin unlikely to introduce new Income-Tax Bill in Budget session

Review panel may submit report before FY26 Budget

CBI arrests 2 income tax department employees in bribery case from Assam

As per the CBI release, the accused were arrested for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4,000 from the complainant which is allegedly part of demanded bribe amount of Rs 10,000

No need to apply for new PAN cards: 11 FAQs on PAN 2.0 system explained

Still unsure about how PAN 2.0 system will work? These FAQs from the CBDT might clear things up

Are non-financial firms' financial investments here to stay, or at risk?

There are two ways of looking at this problem - first, has the composition of reported income changed? And second, has the composition of assets changed?

74% top corporate taxpayers favour real-time compliance monitoring: Report

Deloitte's Income Tax Digitalisation in India survey found a strong push for the use of real-time data, e-wallets, APIs, and emerging technologies like AI and blockchain in the I-T department

ITR 2024: Declare foreign assets by Dec 31 or face Rs 10 lakh fine

The deadline to submit revised or belated ITRs is December 31

Income tax raids common since 2014: CM Hemant Soren questions Centre

He went on to say that he had spoken several times about the state of constitutional agencies and how they were functioning in the country

TDS applicable on salaries of nuns, priests in govt-aided schools: SC

A top court bench led by outgoing Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled that salaries paid from government grants are taxable

CBDT allows tax officials to waive or reduce interest due from taxpayers

The income tax department has allowed tax officials to either waive or reduce interest payable by a taxpayer, subject to specified conditions. Under the Income Tax Act Section 220 (2A), if a taxpayer fails to pay the tax amount specified in any demand notice, he/she is liable to pay interest at 1 per cent per month for the period of delay in making the payment. The Act also empowers Principal Chief Commissioner (PrCCIT) or Chief Commissioner (CCIT) or Principal Commissioner (PrCIT) or Commissioner rank officers to reduce or waive the amount interest due to be paid. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) through a circular dated November 4 has specified the monetary threshold of the interest that can be waived or reduced by the tax officers. Accordingly, PrCCIT rank officer can decide on reducing or waiving interest due of over Rs 1.5 crore. For interest due above Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore, CCIT rank officer will decide on the waiver/reduction, while PrCIT or Income Tax ...

Income tax dept receives 6,500 suggestions on review of income tax act

The income tax department has received 6,500 suggestions from stakeholders over the past month on review of the Income Tax Act. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday chaired a meeting on the Budget announcement of a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The meeting was attended by Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Ravi Agarwal, and senior CBDT officials. In a post on X, the finance ministry said that Malhotra informed the Finance Minister that 22 specialised sub-committees have been established to review the various aspects of the Income Tax Act. These committees have actively engaged in numerous meetings 'both in person and via VC' with domain experts to collaboratively explore and recommend improvements to the Act. "During the meeting, the Revenue Secretary also apprised FM Smt. @nsitharaman that 6,500 valuable suggestions have been received through the portal since it was opened on 6 October 2024, ...

Irish tax perks under I-T lens: What it means for aircraft leasing?

The I-T department's scrutiny stems from notices issued to the offshore firms, asserting that their primary motivation for operating from Ireland is to evade taxation on operating lease rentals

Govt extends ITR filing deadline for corporates by 15 days till November 15

The income tax department on Saturday extended the deadline for filing income tax returns by corporates by 15 days till November 15 for assessment year 2024-25. In a circular, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said the deadline will be extended from the earlier target date of October 31. The new deadline for Assessment Year 2024-25 (for furnishing tax returns for fiscal 2023-24) is November 15. Nangia Andersen LLP Tax Partner Sandeep Jhunjhunwala said this extension would not apply to the Tax Audit Report, transfer pricing certification in Form 3CEB and other income tax forms like Form 10DA, for which the deadline would remain October 31, 2024. AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said the CBDT's decision to extend the deadline for filing income tax returns for AY 2024-25, though not accompanied by an official explanation, seems aligned with the upcoming festive season. "By extending the deadline to November 15, 2024, taxpayers and professionals alike can prioritise

Tax filers earning over Rs 1 cr surge 5X in 10 years; returns double

Salaried individuals account for nearly 52 per cent of those declaring income exceeding Rs 1 crore in the most recent assessment year, according to data released by the tax department

Tax dept simplifies compounding offence process with lower penalties

New guidelines will help businesses, individuals in rectifying mistakes in taxation