Lr.No.ITO.WD-14 DDOs can't consider Medical U/s 80DDB, Direct Donations 80G in TDS Clarifications. Lr.No.ITO.WD-14 IT Dept-Instructions to DDOs-Enforcing TDS Provisions-Claims u/s 80G & u/s 80C etc. The Income Tax Officers at O/o IT, Hyd has requested D.T.A, AP, Hyd vide Letter No. ITO.WD-14-(1)/TDS/State-Govt/2013-14 Dated 21st Jan 2014 to inform all District Treasuries, and DDOs on the following Points:
- TDS on salary not being deducted every month
- Deduction u/s 80DDB in respect of medical treatment cannot be taken account by DDO.
- Wrong Claim of HRA Exemption.
- Improper Claims u/s 80C
- Treatment of arrears directly credited into Provident Fund Accounts.
- Deduction u/s 80G towards Donations.
Details of Income Tax Department Instructions are as follows
- The revenue generated by government of India is the life line of all developmental and welfare activities. Taxes collected are mostly paid to respective states for meeting the social security and welfare measures. Tax deduction at source (TDS) is an important and vital tool for collection of government revenue. TDS Contributes about 40% of the total direct tax collections. Each year the base is widened and new areas are being brought under the TDS net. It is noticed that there are several instances o f non-compliance wrong compliance on the part of DDOs / deductors.
- During the course of examination of deduction and remittance of ta x deducted at source (TDS) by various State Government Departments, it is noticed that the TDS provisions of the Income-ta x Act, 1961 are not being adhered to by various Government Departments. A few instances of defaults identified are brought to DTAs notice for consideration and immediate remedial action for the curre nt Financial Year.
TDS on salary not being deducted every month
- While tax has to be deducted at source every month on an average basis, it is noticed that TDS on salary is being deducted only in the last few months of the financial year. This practice is incorrect and is in violation of the TDS provisions of the Income tax Act, 1961. Due to claims being made in the last months, certain claims which are not allowable, are also being allowed by the respective DDOs.
- It has came to the notice of the Undersigned that the employees of state government who have been in strike for the last 6 months (13 Districts) or so have not drawn their pay & allowances for the said period.
- Apparently, the enployees were as strike on "No work No pay" basis, this has apparently been regularized the period of absence to be treated as earned leave period by the state govt.
- However, it is noticed that they are being paid salary for the said period under the nomenclature "Advance". Therefore, whatever may be the nature of such payment (Advance) (or) salary) paid to the employees if, liable for Tax Deducted at Source.
It is therefore requested to ensure that the entire balance tax liability for the current financial year 2013-14 should be deducted out of the respective salaries to be paid for the month of February'2014. This is mandatory as per the provisions of the Income tax Act, 1961, and should be complied with without fail.
Deduction u/s 80DDB in respect of medical treatment etc., cannot be taken into account by the DDO:
- The deduction u/s 80DDB in respect of medical treatment etc., can be claimed by any person only in the Return of Income filed by him/her before the Assessing Officer by fulfilling all the conditions laid down in that Section. Therefore, the DDO cannot consider the claim of the employee for the deduction under this section while calculating the Income-tax for the purpose of TDS remittances.
As per the provisions of Section 10(13A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, read with Rule 2A of the Income-tax Rules, 19 62, HRA exemption is to be restricted as per the conditions Click here for the conditions:
HRA granted to an employee who is residing in a house/flat owned by self is not exempt from Income-tax. The DDO should satisfy himself regarding the fulfillment of conditions by insisting on production of evidence of actual payment of rent (Rent receipt) before excluding HRA from the Total Income.Improper claims u/s 80C:
Salaried employees drawing HRA up to Rs. 3,000/- per month will be exempted from production of rent receipt.
- Many DDOs are allowing the claims of the employees' u/s 80C towards savings in PF, Life Insurance Premium, NSCs, PPF, Specified Bonds etc., without obtaining any documentary evidence of such investments being actually made. In this connection, the DDOs may be advised to satisfy themselves about the actual deposits / subscriptions / payments made by the employees, by calling for such particulars / information as they deem necessary before allowing the deductions claimed.
- Even if the arrears of salary is credited to the Provident Fund Account of the employee, this arrear amount has to be taken into account as part of salary received during the year and Income-tax has to be calculated on it also for the purpose of TDS remittances.
- It is noticed that some of the DDOs are allowing this deduction u/s 80G towards any donation made by the employees for charitable purposes. But, as per the Circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, generally no deduction should be allowed by the DDO from the salary income in respect of any donations made for charitable purpose. The tax relief on such donations as admissible under section 80G should be claimed by the tax payer in the return of income. However, in cases where employees make donations to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, the Chief Minister's Relief Fund or Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund through their respective employers, such donations will be admissible under section 80G on the basis of certificate issued by the DDO in this behalf.
