19 October 2013
The concept of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) was introduced in the direct tax system to make sure that companies having large profits and declaring substantial dividends to shareholders but who were not contributing to the Govt by way of corporate tax, by taking advantage of the various incentives and exemptions provided in the Income-tax Act, pay a fixed percentage of book profit as minimum alternate tax. Section 115JB, inserted by the Finance Act, 2000 has cast a responsibility on the chartered accountant to certify that the book profit has been computed in accordance with the provisions of the Income-tax Act. He has also to certify the income-tax payable by the company.