Arjuna (Fictional Character): Krishna, June Month is coming to end. Now, it's time to file Income Tax Returns for the year 2013-14. The due date for filing the income tax returns is 30th September for the taxpayers who are Company or to whom Tax Audit under Income Tax is applicable and for others like salaried persons, etc. the due date for filing is 31st July. That's why; new changes are brought in various Forms of Income Tax returns.
Krishna (Fictional Character): Arjuna, all taxpayers should file income tax returns before due date. As per status and income of the taxpayers, government has defined the types of Income Tax Returns. In this year government made various changes in the forms due to amendments in laws or for what of more information for tax payers.
Arjuna: Krishna, Please tell in detail the changes that took place in Income Tax Returns? Krishna: Arjuna the major changes in Income Tax Returns are as under:
1. All taxpayers filing E-Returns will have to compulsorily update correct mobile number and E- Mail ID's. Otherwise there will be login issues before uploading of return on income tax Depts Website.
2. Now onwards Income Tax Refund will be issued directly in the bank account of the taxpayer through ECS only, cheques are discontinued. Therefore at most care should be taken while mentioning Bank Account Number and IFSC Code in the income tax returns.
3. From this year while claiming TDS in Income Tax return facility has been given to carry forward the TDS of previous year and brought forward TDS to next year. Due to this reconciliation of TDS claimed on Income and total available TDS as per Form 26 can be made. Tax payers which follow cash system of accounting will be benefited, like Doctors, Advocates, CAs and other professionals.
4. As per newly inserted Section 87A if annual income of the taxpayer is up to Rs. 5,00,000/- then Tax relief of maximum of Rs. 2,000/- is given. For claiming this relief separate space has been inserted in the return.
5. As per newly inserted Section 80EE if taxpayer has purchased house up to Rs. 40 Lakh and taken housing loan of Rs. 25 Lakh then taxpayer can claim deduction of interest up to Rs. 1 Lakh. For claiming this deduction separate space has been inserted in the return.
6. If income of the taxpayer is more than Rs. 1 crore then surcharge of 10% is applicable. For this separate space has been inserted in the return.
7. All salaries taxpayers will now have to give now separate details of LTA (Leave Travel Allowance) and HRA (House Rent Allowance) and other allowances separately. This will help Govt. to track proper claim of such deductions, recent HRA and LTA fallacious claimed by some MPs and Govt. taxpayers may have forced for such changes.
8. From this year the details of short and long term capital gain will have to be given in three parts viz.
a) sale of plot / flat
b) sale of STT paid shares and mutual funds
c) sale of other assets.
Further in case of sale of land or building Stamp Duty Value will have to be mentioned. Further if taxpayer is availing exemption under capital gains then value of newly purchased asset, date of acquisition of the asset and if invested in capital gain account then its details will have to be mentioned.
9. Corporate or LLP assessee will have to mention Corporate Identification Number or LLP Identification Number. Further Director or Designated Partner Identification Number will have to be mentioned. This will help in cross check of information with other legal departments by income tax dept or visa a versa.
10. If assessee carrying on business is taking deduction of bad debts of more than Rs. 1 Lakh of single person, then his PAN will have to be mentioned.
11. As per newly inserted section 43 CA if, taxpayer have sold other than capital assets below stamp duty value (eg. builders / developers) then the difference between the two will be considered as deemed income of the assessee and tax will have to be paid on it. For this separate space has been inserted in the return.
12. If there is more than one owner of the house then, while mentioning details in the schedule of Income from House Property the percentage of co ownership will have to be given.
13. From this year e-filing of wealth tax return is compulsory and in this return the details of all wealth whether taxable or not, will have to be given in depth.
Arjuna: Krishna, What one should learn from these upcoming changes?
Krishna: Arjuna, Today computerization has increased tremendously in functioning of Tax departments. Due to which now all tax departments exchange information of taxpayers with each other. Therefore taxpayers should give correct information to all the departments without hiding and should pay appropriate tax as per laws. As one lie leads to other lie. If in one department, wrong / incorrect information is given then in other department information will have to give in same manner.
All knows the Result of telling lie. Filing correct return is the responsibility of all the citizens. If returns are not filed then due to computerization on the basis of PAN of the taxpayer, information of TDS, big transactions of Banks, etc. is received by the Income tax department and they can catch hold. Now Department will immediately inform taxpayer on mobile and email. Further the notices sent through email are legally valid. Therefore taxpayer cannot find escape route of non-receipt of notice and hence compliance of law will increase.
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