Revenue Secretary speaks on I-T Dept.’s role

There will be no harassment by the Income Tax Department for small deposits made by people, says Hasmukh Adhia.

People throng the State Bank of Travancore’s counters to exchange old notes in Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Photo: S. Mahinsha

Q: A lot of small businessmen, housewives, artisans, workers may have some cash lying as their savings at home, will the income tax department ask questions if the same is deposited in banks?

A: Such group of people as mentioned in the question need not worry about such small amount of deposits up to Rs.1.5 or 2 lacs, since it would be below the taxable income. There will be no harassment by the Income Tax Department for such small deposits made.

Q: Will the Income Tax department be getting reports of cash deposits made during this period? If so, will the current threshold of reporting requirement of cash deposits of more than Rs. 10 lakh will only continue?

A: We will be getting reports of all cash deposited during the period of 10th November to 30th December, 2016, above a threshold of Rs. 2.5 lacs in every account. The department would do matching of this with the income returns filled by the depositors. And suitable action may follow.

Q: Suppose the department finds that huge amount of cash above Rs. 10 lacs is deposited in a bank account, which is not matching with the income declared, what would be the tax and penalty to be paid on the same?

A: This would be treated as the case of tax evasion and the tax amount, plus a penalty of 200% of the tax payable, would be levied as per the section 270(A) of the income tax Act.

Q: It is believed that a lot of people are buying jewellery now. How does the department plan to tackle this?

A: The person who buys jewellery has to give his PAN number. We are issuing instructions to the field authorities to check with all the jewellers to ensure that this requirement is not compromised. Action will be taken against those jewellers who fail to take PAN numbers from such buyers. When the cash deposits of the jewellers would be scrutinised against the sales made, whether they have taken the PAN number of the buyer or not will also be checked.