TDS on Salary for Financial Year 2016-17 (Assessment Year 2017-18) : CBDT Circular

By | January 6, 2017
(Last Updated On: March 2, 2017)

 TDS on Salary for FY 2016-17 / Financial Year 2016-17 ( Assessment Year 2017-18 )

Following Circular of TDS on Salary for FY 2016-17 issued by CBDT explains how much TDS to be deducted and valuation of perquisites, Allowances etc.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES

DEDUCTION OF TAX AT SOURCE- INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961

DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2016-17
CIRCULAR NO. 01/2017
NEW DELHI, the 2nd January, 2017

F.No. 275/192/2016-IT(B)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes
******

North Block, New Delhi

Dated the 2nd January, 2017

SUBJECT: INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2016-17 UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961.

Reference is invited to Circular No. 20/2015 dated 02.12.2015 whereby the rates of deduction of income-tax from the payment of income under the head “Salaries” under Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter ‘the Act’), during the financial year 2015-16, were intimated. The present Circular contains the rates of deduction of income-tax from the payment of income chargeable under the head “Salaries” during the financial year 2016-17 and explains certain related provisions of the Act and Income-tax Rules, 1962 (hereinafter the Rules). The relevant Acts, Rules, Forms and Notifications are available at the website of the Income Tax Department- ww.incometaxindia.gov.in.

2. RATES OF INCOME-TAX AS PER FINANCE ACT, 2016:

As per the Finance Act, 2016, income-tax is required to be deducted under Section 192 of the Act from income chargeable under the head “Salaries” for the financial year 2016-17 (i.e. Assessment Year 2017-18) at the following rates:

2.1 Rates of tax

A. Normal Rates of tax:

Sl NoTotal IncomeRate of tax
1Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000/-.Nil
2Where the total income exceeds    Rs. 2,50,000/- but does not exceed  Rs. 5,00,000/-.10 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 2,50,000/-
3Where the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-.Rs. 25,000/- plus 20 per cent of the        amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.
4Where the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-.Rs. 1,25,000/- plus 30 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

B. Rates of tax for every individual, resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or more but less than eighty years at any time during the financial year:

Sl NoTotal IncomeRate of tax
1Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 3,00,000/-Nil
2Where the total income exceeds Rs. 3,00,000 but does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-10 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 3,00,000/-
3Where the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-Rs. 20,000/- plus 20 per cent of the        amount by which the total income
exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.
4Where the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-Rs. 1,20,000/- plus 30 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

C. In case of every individual being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or more at any time during the financial year:

Sl NoTotal IncomeRate of tax
1Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-Nil
2Where the total income exceeds Rs.  5,00,000 but does not exceed    Rs.
10,00,000/-
20 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-
4Where the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-Rs. 1,00,000/- plus 30 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

2.2 Surcharge on Income tax:

The amount of income-tax computed in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Paragraph, or the provisions of section 111A or section 112 of the Income-tax Act, shall, in the case of every individual or Hindu undivided family or association of persons or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or every artificial juridical person referred to in sub-clause (vii) of clause (31) of section 2 of the Income-tax Act, having a total income exceeding one crore rupees, be increased by a surcharge for the purpose of the Union calculated at the rate of fifteen per cent of such income-tax:

Provided that in the case of persons mentioned above having total income exceeding one crore rupees, the total amount payable as income-tax and surcharge on such income shall not exceed the total amount payable as income-tax on a total income of one crore rupees by more than the amount of income that exceeds one crore rupees.

2.3.1 Education Cess on Income tax:

The amount of income-tax including the surcharge if any, shall be increased by Education Cess on Income Tax at the rate of two percent of the income-tax.

2.3.2 Secondary and Higher Education Cess on Income-tax:

An additional education cess is chargeable at the rate of one percent of income-tax including the surcharge if any, but not including the Education Cess on income tax as in 2.3.1.

3. SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961: BROAD SCHEME OF TAX DEDUCTION AT SOURCE FROM “SALARIES”:

3.1 Method of Tax Calculation:

Every person who is responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head “Salaries” shall deduct income-tax on the estimated income of the assessee under the head “Salaries” for the financial year 2016-17. The income-tax is required to be calculated on the basis of the rates given above, subject to the provisions related to requirement to furnish PAN as per sec 206AA of the Act, and shall be deducted at the time of each payment. No tax, however, will be required to be deducted at source in any case unless the estimated salary income including the value of perquisites, for the financial year exceeds Rs. 2,50,000/- or Rs.3,00,000/- or Rs. 5,00,000/-, as the case may be, depending upon the age of the employee. (Some typical illustrations of computation of tax are given at Annexure-I).

3.2 Payment of Tax on Perquisites by Employer:

An option has been given to the employer to pay the tax on non-monetary perquisites given to an employee. The employer may, at its option, make payment of the tax on such perquisites himself without making any TDS from the salary of the employee. However, the employer will have to pay the tax at the time when such tax was otherwise deductible i.e. at the time of payment of income chargeable under the head “salaries” to the employee.

3.2.1 Computation of Average Income Tax:

For the purpose of making the payment of tax mentioned in para 3.2 above, tax is to be determined at the average of income tax computed on the basis of rate in force for the financial year, on the income chargeable under the head “salaries”, including the value of perquisites for which tax has been paid by the employer himself.

3.2.2 Illustration:

The income chargeable under the head “salaries” of an employee below sixty years of age for the year inclusive of all perquisites is Rs.4,50,000/-, out of which, Rs.50,000/- is on account of non-monetary perquisites and the employer opts to pay the tax on such perquisites as per the provisions discussed in para 3.2 above.

STEPS:

Income Chargeable under the head “Salaries” inclusive of all perquisitesRs. 4,50,000/-
Tax on Total Salary (including Cess)Rs. 20,600/-
Average Rate of Tax [(20,600/4,50,000) X 100]4.57%
Tax payable on Rs.50,000/= (4.57% of 50,000)Rs. 2285/-
Amount required to be deposited each monthRs. 190 ((Rs. 190.40)=2285/12)

The tax so paid by the employer shall be deemed to be TDS made from the salary of the employee.

3.3 Salary From More Than One Employer:

Section 192(2) deals with situations where an individual is working under more than one employer or has changed from one employer to another. It provides for deduction of tax at source by such employer (as the tax payer may choose) from the aggregate salary of the employee, who is or has been in receipt of salary from more than one employer. The employee is now required to furnish to the present/chosen employer details of the income under the head “Salaries” due or received from the former/other employer and also tax deducted at source therefrom, in writing and duly verified by him and by the former/other employer. The present/chosen employer will be required to deduct tax at source on the aggregate amount of salary (including salary received from the former or other employer).

3.4 Relief When Salary Paid in Arrear or Advance:

3.4.1 Under section 192(2A) where the assessee, being a Government servant or an employee in a company, co-operative society, local authority, university, institution, association or body is entitled to the relief under Section 89(1) he may furnish to the person responsible for making the payment referred to in Para (3.1), such particulars in Form No. 10E duly verified by him, and thereupon the person responsible, as aforesaid, shall compute the relief on the basis of such particulars and take the same into account in making the deduction under Para(3.1) above.

Here “university” means a university established or incorporated by or under a Central, State or Provincial Act, and includes an institution declared under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 to be a university for the purpose of that Act.

3.4.2 With effect from 1/04/2010 (AY 2010-11), no such relief shall be granted in respect of any amount received or receivable by an assessee on his voluntary retirement or termination of his service, in accordance with any scheme or schemes of voluntary retirement or in the case of a public sector company referred to in section 10(10C)(i) (read with Rule 2BA), a scheme of voluntary separation, if an exemption in respect of any amount received or receivable on such voluntary retirement or termination of his service or voluntary separation has been claimed by the assessee under section 10(10C) in respect of such, or any other, assessment year.

3.5 Information regarding Income under any other head:

(i) Section 1 92(2B) enables a taxpayer to furnish particulars of income under any head other than “Salaries” ( not being a loss under any such head other than the loss under the head “ Income from house property”) received by the taxpayer for the same financial year and of any tax deducted at source thereon. The particulars may now be furnished in a simple statement, which is properly signed and verified by the taxpayer in the manner as prescribed under Rule 26B(2) of the Rules and shall be annexed to the simple statement. The form of verification is reproduced as under:

I, …………………………….. (name of the assessee), do declare that what is stated above is true to the best of my information and belief.

It is reiterated that the DDO can take into account any loss only under the head “Income from house property”. Loss under any other head cannot be considered by the DDO for calculating the amount of tax to be deducted.

3.6 Computation of income under the head “ Income from house property”:

While taking into account the loss from House Property, the DDO shall ensure that the employee files the declaration referred to above and encloses therewith a computation of such loss from house property. Following details shall be obtained and kept by the employer in respect of loss claimed under the head “ Income from house property” separately for each house property:

a) Gross annual rent/value

b) Municipal Taxes paid, if any

c) Deduction claimed for interest paid, if any

d) Other deductions claimed

e) Address of the property

The DDO shall also ensure furnishing of the evidence or particulars in Form No. 12BB in respect of deduction of interest as specified in Rule 26C read with section 192 (2D).

3.6.1 Conditions for Claim of Deduction of Interest on Borrowed Capital for Computation of Income From House Property [Section 24(b)]:

Section 24(b) of the Act allows deduction from income from houses property on interest on borrowed capital as under:-

(i) the deduction is allowed only in case of house property which is owned and is in the occupation of the employee for his own residence. However, if it is actually not occupied by the employee in view of his place of the employment being at other place, his residence in that other place should not be in a building belonging to him.

(ii) the quantum of deduction allowed as per table below:

Sl NoPurpose of borrowing capitalDate of borrowing
capital
Maximum Deduction allowable
1Repair or renewal or reconstruction of the houseAny timeRs. 30,000/-
2Acquisition or construction of the houseBefore 01.04.1999Rs. 30,000/-
3Acquisition or construction of the houseOn or after 01.04.1999Rs. 1,50,000/-
(upto AY 2014-15)
Rs. 2,00,000/-
(w. e. f. AY 2015-16)

In case of Serial No. 3 above

(a) The acquisition or construction of the house should be completed within3 years from the end of the FY in which the capital was borrowed. Hence, it is necessary for the DDO to have the completion certificate of the house property against which deduction is claimed either from the builder or through self-declaration from the employee.

(b) Further any prior period interest for the FYs upto the FY in which the property was acquired or constructed (as reduced by any part of interest allowed as deduction under any other section of the Act) shall be deducted in equal installments for the FY in question and subsequent four FYs.

(c) The employee has to furnish before the DDO a certificate from the person to whom any interest is payable on the borrowed capital specifying the amount of interest payable. In case a new loan is taken to repay the earlier loan, then the certificate should also show the details of Principal and Interest of the loan so repaid.

3.7 Adjustment for Excess or Shortfall of Deduction:

The provisions of Section 192(3) allow the deductor to make adjustments for any excess or shortfall in the deduction of tax already made during the financial year, in subsequent deductions for that employee within that financial year itself.

3.8 Salary Paid in Foreign Currency:

For the purposes of deduction of tax on salary payable in foreign currency, the value in rupees of such salary shall be calculated at the “Telegraphic transfer buying rate” of such currency as on the date on which tax is required to be deducted at source ( see Rule 26).

4. PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEDUCTING TAX AND THEIR DUTIES:

4.1. As per section 204(i) of the Act, in the context of payments other than payments by the Central Government of the State Government the “persons responsible for paying” for the purpose of Section 192 means the employer himself or if the employer is a Company, the Company itself including the Principal Officer thereof. Further, as per Section 204(iv), in case the credit, or as the case may be, the payment is made by or on behalf of Central Government or State Government, the DDO or any other person by whatever name called, responsible for crediting, or as the case may be, paying such sum is the “persons responsible for paying” for the purpose of Section 192.

4.2. The tax determined as per para 9 should be deducted from the salary u/s 192 of the Act.

4.3. Deduction of Tax at Lower Rate:

If the jurisdictional TDS officer of the Taxpayer issues a certificate of No Deduction or Lower Deduction of Tax under section 197 of the Act, in response to the application filed before him in Form No 13 by the Taxpayer; then the DDO should take into account such certificate and deduct tax on the salary payable at the rates mentioned therein.(see Rule 28AA). The Unique Identification Number of the certificate is required to be reported in Quarterly Statement of TDS (Form 24Q).

4.4. Deposit of Tax Deducted:

Rule 30 prescribes time and mode of payment of tax deducted at source to the account of Central Government.

4.4.1. Due dates for payment of TDS:

Prescribed time of payment/deposit of TDS to the credit of Central Government account is as under:

a) In case of an Office of Government:

Sl No.DescriptionTime up to which to be deposited.
1Tax deposited without Challan [Book Entry]SAME DAY
2Tax deposited with Challan7TH DAY NEXT MONTH
3Tax on perquisites opt to be deposited by the employer.7TH DAY NEXT MONTH

b) In any case other than an Office of Government

Sl No.DescriptionTime up to which to be deposited.
1Tax deducted in March30th APRIL NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR
2Tax deducted in any other month7TH DAY NEXT MONTH
3Tax on perquisites opted to be deposited by the employer7TH DAY NEXT MONTH

However, if a DDO applies before the jurisdictional Additional/Joint Commissioner of Income Tax to permit quarterly payments of TDS under section 192, the Rule 30(3) allows for payments on quarterly basis and as per time given in Table below:

Sl. No.Quarter of the financial year ended onDate for quarterly payment
130th June7th July
230th September7th October
331st December7th January
431st March30th April next Financial Year

4.4.2 Mode of Payment of TDS

4.4.2.1 Compulsory filing of Statement by PAO, Treasury Officer, etc in case of payment of TDS by Book Entry u/ s 200 (2A):

In the case of an office of the Government, where tax has been paid to the credit of the Central Government without the production of a challan [Book Entry], the Pay and Accounts Officer or the Treasury Officer or the Cheque Drawing and Disbursing Officer or any other person by whatever name called to whom the deductor reports about the tax deducted and who is responsible for crediting such sum to the credit of the Central Government, shall‐

(a) submit a statement in Form No. 24G under section 200 (2A) on or before the 30th day of April where statement relates to the month of March; and in any other case, on or before 15 days from the end of relevant month to the agency authorized by the Director General of Income‐tax (Systems) [TIN Facilitation Centres currently managed by M/s National Securities Depository Ltd] in respect of tax deducted by the deductors and reported to him for that month; and

(b) intimate the number (hereinafter referred to as the Book Identification Number or BIN) generated by the agency to each of the deductors in respect of whom the sum deducted has been credited. BIN consist of receipt number of Form 24G, DDO sequence number in Form No. 24G and date on which tax is deposited.

If the PAO/CDDO/TO etc, as stated above, fails to deliver the statement as required u/s 200(2A), he will be liable to pay, by way of penalty, under section 272A(2)(m), a sum which shall be Rs.100/- for every day during which the failure continues. However, the amount of such penalty shall not exceed the amount of tax which is deductable at source.

The procedure of furnishing Form 24G is detailed in Annexure III. PAOs/DDOs should go through the FAQs in Annexure IV to understand the correct process to be followed. The ZAO / PAO of Central Government Ministries is responsible for filing of Form No. 24G on monthly basis. The person responsible for filing Form No. 24G in case of State Govt. Departments is shown at Annexure V.

The procedure of furnishing Form 24G is detailed in Annexure IV. PAOs/DDOs should go through the FAQs therein to understand the correct process to be followed.

4.4.2.2 Payment by an Income Tax Challan:

(i) In case the payment is made by an income-tax challan, the amount of tax so deducted shall be deposited to the credit of the Central Government by remitting it, within the time specified in Table in para 4.4.1 above, into any office of the Reserve Bank of India or branches of the State Bank of India or of any authorized bank;

(ii) In case of a company and a person (other than a company), to whom provisions of section 44AB are applicable, the amount deducted shall be electronically remitted into the Reserve Bank of India or the State Bank of India or any authorised bank accompanied by an electronic income-tax challan (Rule125).

The amount shall be construed as electronically remitted to the Reserve Bank of India or to the State Bank of India or to any authorized bank, if the amount is remitted by way of:

(a) internet banking facility of the Reserve Bank of India or of the State Bank of India or of any authorized bank; or

(b) debit card. {Notification No.41/2010 dated 31st May 2010}

4.5 Interest, Penalty & Prosecution for Failure to Deposit Tax Deducted:

4.5.1 If a person fails to deduct the whole or any part of the tax at source, or, after deducting, fails to pay the whole or any part of the tax to the credit of the Central Government within the prescribed time, he shall be liable to action in accordance with the provisions of section 201 and shall be deemed to be an assessee-in-default in respect of such tax and liable for penal action u/s 221 of the Act. Further Section 201(1A) provides that such person shall be liable to pay simple interest

(i) at the rate of 1% for every month or part of the month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deductible to the date on which such tax is deducted; and

(ii) at the rate of one and one-half percent for every month or part of a month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deducted to the date on which such tax is actually paid.

Such interest, if chargeable, is mandatory in nature and has to be paid before furnishing of quarterly statement of TDS for respective quarter.

4.5.2 Section 271C inter alia lays down that if any person fails to deduct whole or any part of tax at source or fails to pay the whole or part of tax under the second proviso to section 194B, he shall be liable to pay, by way of penalty, a sum equal to the amount of tax not deducted or paid by him.

4.5.3 Further, section 276B lays down that if a person fails to pay to the credit of the Central Government within the prescribed time, as above, the tax deducted at source by him or tax payable by him under the second proviso to Section 1 94B, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall be between 3 months and 7 years, along with fine.

4.6 Furnishing of Certificate for Tax Deducted (Section 203):

4.6.1 Section 203 requires the DDO to furnish to the employee a certificate in Form 16 detailing the amount of TDS and certain other particulars. Rule 31 prescribes that Form 16 should be furnished to the employee by 31st May after the end of the financial year in which the income was paid and tax deducted. Even the banks deducting tax at the time of payment of pension are required to issue such certificates. Revised Form 16 annexed to Notification No 11 dated 19-02-2013 is enclosed. The certificate in Form 16 shall specify

(a) Valid permanent account number (PAN) of the deductee;

(b) Valid tax deduction and collection account number (TAN) of the deductor;

(i) Book identification number or numbers (BIN) where deposit of tax deducted is without production of challan in case of an office of the Government;

(ii) Challan identification number or numbers (CIN*) in case of payment through bank.

(*Challan identification number (CIN) means the number comprising the Basic Statistical Returns (BSR) Code of the Bank branch where the tax has been deposited, the date on which the tax has been deposited and challan serial number given by the bank.)

(d) Receipt numbers of all the relevant quarterly statements of TDS (24Q). The receipt number of the quarterly statement is of 8 digit.

Further as per Circular 04/2013 dated 17-04-2013 all deductors (including Government deductors who deposit TDS in the Central Government Account through book entry) shall issue the Part A of Form No. 16, by generating and subsequently downloading it through TRACES Portal and after duly authenticating and verifying it, in respect of all sums deducted on or after the 1st day of April, 2012 under the provisions of section 192 of Chapter XVII-B. Part A of Form No 16 shall have a unique TDS certificate number. ‘Part B (Annexure)’ of Form No. 16 shall be prepared by the deductor manually and issued to the deductee after due authentication and verification along with the Part A of the Form No. 16.

It may be noted that under the new TDS procedure, TAN of deductee/ PAN of the deductee and receipt number of TDS statement filed by the deductor act as unique identifier for granting online credit of TDS to the decutee. Hence due care should be taken in filling these particulars. Due care should also be taken in indicating correct CIN/ BIN in TDS statement.

If the DDO fails to issue these certificates to the person concerned, as required by section 203, he will be liable to pay, by way of penalty, under section 272A(2)(g), a sum which shall be Rs. 100/- for every day during which the failure continues.

It is, however, clarified that there is no obligation to issue the TDS certificate in case tax at source is not deductible/deducted by virtue of claims of exemptions and deductions.

[Note: TRACES is a web-based application of the Income – tax Department that provides an interface to all stakeholders associated with TDS administration. It enables viewing of challan status, downloading of NSDL Conso File, Justification Report and Form 16 / 16A as well as viewing of annual tax credit statements (Form 26AS). Each deductor is required to Register in the Traces portal. Form 16/16A issued to deductees should mandatorily be generated and downloaded from the TRACES portal].

Certain essential points regarding the filing of the Statement and obtaining TDS certificates are mentioned below:

(a) TDS certificate (Form16) would be generated for the deductee only if Valid PAN is correctly mentioned in the Annexure II of Form 24Q in Quarter 4 filed by the deductor. Moreover, employers are advised to ensure in Form 16 that the status of “matching” with respect to “Form 24G/OLTAS” is ‘F’. If the status of matching other than ‘F’, kindly take necessary action promptly to rectify the same. It is pertinent to mention here that certain facilities have been provided to the deductors at website tdscpc.gov.in/ including online correction of statements (Form 24Q).

(b) The employer should quote the gross amount of salary (including any amount exempt under section 10 and the deductions under chapter VI A) in column 321 (Amount paid/credited) of Annexure I of Form 24Q as per NSDL RPU (hereafter Return Preparation Utility).

(c) The employer should quote the amount of salary excluding any amount exempt under section 10 in column 333 (Total amount of salary) of Annexure II of Form 24Q as per NSDL RPU.

(d) TDS on Income (including loss from House Property) under any Head other than the head ‘Salaries’ offered for TDS (shown in column 339) can be shown in column 350 (Reported amount of TDS by previous employer, as per NSDL RPU.

(e) Employer is advised to quote Total Taxable Income (Column 346) in Annexure II without rounding-off and TDS should be deducted and reported accordingly i.e. without rounding-off of TDS also.

Example:

Total
Taxable
Income
Total Taxable
Income (Rounded
Off)
TDS to be DeductedTDS Deducted/ Reported
after rounding-off of income
Short Deduction
Rs.1350094Rs. 1350090Rs. 235028.20Rs 235027Rs.1.20

4.6.2. If an assessee is employed by more than one employer during the year, each of the employers shall issue Part A of the certificate in Form No. 16 pertaining to the period for which such assessee was employed with each of the employers and Part B may be issued by each of the employers or the last employer at the option of the assessee.

4.6.3. Authentication by Digital Signatures:

(i) Where a certificate is to be furnished in Form No. 16, the deductor may, at his option, use digital signatures to authenticate such certificates.

(ii) In case of certificates issued under clause (i), the deductor shall ensure that

(a) the conditions prescribed in para 4.6.1 above are complied with;

(b) once the certificate is digitally signed, the contents of the certificates are not amenable to change; and

(c) the certificates have a control number and a log of such certificates is maintained by the deductor.

♦ The digital signature is being used to authenticate most of the e-transactions on the internet as transmission of information using digital signature is failsafe. It saves time specially in organisations having large number of employees where issuance of certificate of deduction of tax with manual signature is time consuming (Circular no 2 of 2007 dated 21.05.2007)

4.6.4. Furnishing of particulars pertaining to perquisites, etc (Section 192(2C):

4.6.4.1 As per section 192(2C), the responsibility of providing correct and complete particulars of perquisites or profits in lieu of salary given to an employee is placed on the person responsible for paying such income i.e., the person responsible for deducting tax at source. The form and manner of such particulars are prescribed in Rule 26A, Form 12BA (Annexure II) and Form 16 of the Rules. Information relating to the nature and value of perquisites is to be provided by the employer in Form 12BA in case salary paid or payable is above Rs. 1,50,000/-. In other cases, the information would have to be provided by the employer in Form 16 itself.

4.6.4.2 An employer, who has paid the tax on perquisites on behalf of the employee as per the provisions discussed in para 3.2 of this circular, shall furnish to the employee concerned, a certificate to the effect that tax has been paid to the Central Government and specify the amount so paid, the rate at which tax has been paid and certain other particulars in the amended Form 16.

4.6.4.3 The obligation cast on the employer under Section 192(2C) for furnishing a statement showing the value of perquisites provided to the employee is a crucial responsibility of the employer, which is expected to be discharged in accordance with law and rules of valuation framed there under. Any false information, fabricated documentation or suppression of requisite information will entail consequences thereof provided under the law. The certificates in Forms 16 and/or Form 12BA specified above, shall be furnished to the employee by 31st May of the financial year immediately following the financial year in which the income was paid and tax deducted. If he fails to issue these certificates to the person concerned, as required by section 1 92(2C), he will be liable to pay, by way of penalty, under section 272A(2)(i), a sum which shall be Rs. 100/- for every day during which the failure continues.

As per Section 139C of the Act, the Assessing Officer can require the taxpayer to produce Form 12BA alongwith Form 16, as issued by the employer.

4.6.5  DDOs empowered to obtain evidence of proof or particulars of the prescribed claim (including claim for set-off of loss) under the section 192(2D):

DDOs have been authorized u/s 192 to allow certain deductions, exemptions or allowances or set-off of certain loss as per the provisions of the Act for the purpose of estimating the income of the assessee or computing the amount of tax deductible under the said section. The evidence /proof /particulars for some of the deductions/exemptions/allowances/set-off of loss claimed by the employee such as rent receipt for claiming deduction in HRA, evidence of interest payments for claiming loss from self-occupied house property, etc is not available to the DDO. To bring certainity and uniformity in this matter, section 192(2D) provides that person responsible for paying (DDOs) shall obtain from the assessee evidence or proof or particular of claims such as House rent Allowance (where aggregate annual rent exceeds one lakh rupees); Leave Travel Concession or Assistance; Deduction of interest under the head “Income from house property” and deduction under Chapter VI-A as per the prescribed form 12BB laid down by Rule 26C of the Rules. Form 12BB is enclosed as Annexure IIa.

4.7 Mandatory Quoting of PAN and TAN:

4.7.1 Section 203A of the Act makes it obligatory for all persons responsible for deducting tax at source to obtain and quote the Tax deduction and collection Account No (TAN) in the challans, TDS-certificates, statements and other documents. Detailed instructions in this regard are available in this Department’s Circular No.497 [F.No.275/1 18/ 87-IT(B) dated 9.10.1987]. If a person fails to comply with the provisions of section 203A, he will be liable to pay, by way of penalty, under section 272BB, a sum of ten thousand rupees. Similarly, as per Section 139A(5B), it is obligatory for persons deducting tax at source to quote PAN of the persons from whose income tax has been deducted in the statement furnished u/s 1 92(2C), certificates furnished u/s 203 and all statements prepared and delivered as per the provisions of section 200(3) of the Act.

4.7.2 All tax deductors are required to file the TDS statements in Form No.24Q (for tax deducted from salaries). As the requirement of filing TDS certificates alongwith the return of income has been done away with, the lack of PAN of deductees is creating difficulties in giving credit for the tax deducted. Tax deductors are, therefore, advised to procure and quote correct PAN details of all deductees in the TDS statements for salaries in Form 24Q. Taxpayers are also liable to furnish their correct PAN to their deductors. Non-furnishing of PAN by the deductee (employee) to the deductor (employer) will result in deduction of TDS at higher rates u/s 206AA of the Act mentioned in para 4.8 below.

4.8 Compulsory Requirement to furnish PAN by employee (Section 206AA):

4.8.1 Section 206AA in the Act makes furnishing of PAN by the employee compulsory in case of receipt of any sum or income or amount, on which tax is deductible. If employee (deductee) fails to furnish his/her PAN to the deductor , the deductor has been made responsible to make TDS at higher of the following rates:

i )at the rate specified in the relevant provision of this Act; or

ii) at the rate or rates in force; or

iii)  at the rate of twenty per cent.

The deductor has to determine the tax amount in all the three conditions and apply the higher rate of TDS. However, where the income of the employee computed for TDS u/s 192 is below taxable limit, no tax will be deducted. But where the income of the employee computed for TDS u/s 192 is above taxable limit, the deductor will calculate the average rate of income-tax based on rates in force as provided in sec 192. If the tax so calculated is below 20%, deduction of tax will be made at the rate of 20% and in case the average rate exceeds 20%, tax is to be deducted at the average rate. Education cess @ 2% and Secondary and Higher Education Cess @ 1% is not to be deducted, in case the tax is deducted at 20% u/s 206AA of the Act.

4.9 Statement of deduction of tax under section 200(3) [Quarterly Statement of TDS]:

4.9.1  The person deducting the tax (employer in case of salary income), is required to file duly verified Quarterly Statements of TDS in Form 24Q for the periods [details in Table below] of each financial year, to the TIN Facilitation Centres authorized by DGIT (System’s) which is currently managed by M/s National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) or at www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in after registering as Deductor. Particulars of e-TDS Intermediary at any of the TIN Facilitation Centres are available at http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in and http://tin-nsdl.com portals. The requirement of filing an annual return of TDS has been done away with w.e.f. 1.4.2006. The quarterly statement for the last quarter filed in Form 24Q (as amended by Notification No. S.O.704(E) dated 12.5.2006) shall be treated as the annual return of TDS. Due dates of filing this statement quarterwise is as in the Table below.

TABLE: Dates of filing Quarterly Statements E-TDS Return 24Q

Sl NoReturn for Quarter endingDue date for Government OfficesDue date for Other Deductors
130th June31st July15th July
230th September31st October15th October
331st December31st January15th January
431st March15th May15th May

4.9.2 The statements referred above may be furnished in paper form or electronically under digital signature or alongwith verification of the statement in Form 27A of verified through an electronic process in accordance with the procedures, formats and standards specified by the Director General of Income‐tax (Systems). The procedure for furnishing the e-TDS/TCS statement is detailed at Annexure VI.

4.9.3 All Returns in Form 24Q are required to be furnished in electronically except in case where the number of deductee records is less than 20 and deductor is not an office of Government, or a company or a person who is required to get his accounts audited under section 44AB of the Act. [Notification No. 11 dated 19.02.2013].

4.9.4 Fee for default in furnishing statements (Section 234E):

If a person fails to deliver or caused to be delivered a statement within the time prescribed in section 200(3) in respect of tax deducted at source on or after 1.07.2012 he shall be liable to pay, by way of fee a sum of Rs. 200 for every day during which the failure continues. However, the amount of such fee shall not exceed the amount of tax which was deductible at source. This fee is mandatory in nature and to be paid before furnishing of such statement.

4.9.5  Rectification of mistake in filing TDS Statement:

A DDO can also file a correction statement for rectification of any mistake or to add, delete or update the information furnished in the statement delivered earlier.

4.9.6 Penalty for failure in furnishing statements or furnishing incorrect information (section 271H):

If a person fails to deliver or caused to be delivered a statement within the time prescribed in section 200(3) or furnishes an incorrect statement, in respect of tax deducted at source on or after 1.07.2012, he shall be liable to pay, by way of penalty a sum which shall not be less than Rs. 10,000/- but which may extend to Rs 1,00,000/-. However, the penalty shall not be levied if the person proves that after paying TDS with the fee and interest, if any, to the credit of Central Government, he had delivered such statement before the expiry of one year from the time prescribed for delivering the statement.

4.9.7 At the time of preparing statements of tax deducted, the deductor is required to:

(i) mandatory quote his tax deduction and collection account number (TAN) in the statement;

(ii) mandatory quote his permanent account number (PAN) in the statement except in the case where the deductor is an office of the Government( including State Government). In case of Government deductors “PANNOTREQD” to be quoted in the e-TDS statement;

(iii) mandatory quote of permanent account number PAN of all deductees;

(iv) furnish particulars of the tax paid to the Central Government including book identification number or challan identification number, as the case may be.

(v) furnish particular of amounts paid or credited on which tax was not deducted in view of the issue of certificate of no deduction of tax u/s 197 by the assessing officer of the payee.

4.10 TDS on Income from Pension:

In the case of pensioners who receive their pension (not being family pension paid to a spouse) from a nationalized bank, the instructions contained in this circular shall apply in the same manner as they apply to salary-income. The deductions from the amount of pension under section 80C on account of contribution to Life Insurance, Provident Fund, NSC etc., if the pensioner furnishes the relevant details to the banks, may be allowed. Necessary instructions in this regard were issued by the Reserve Bank of India to the State Bank of India and other nationalized Banks vide RBI’s Pension Circular(Central Series) No.7/C.D.R./1992 (Ref. CO: DGBA: GA (NBS) No.60/GA.64 (11CVL)-/92) dated the 27th April 1992, and, these instructions should be followed by all the branches of the Banks, which have been entrusted with the task of payment of pensions. Further all branches of the banks are bound u/s 203 to issue certificate of tax deducted in Form 16 to the pensioners also vide CBDT circular no. 761 dated 13.1.98.

4.11. Matters pertaining to the TDS made in case of Non Resident:

4.11.1 Where Non-Residents are deputed to work in India and taxes are borne by the employer, if any refund becomes due to the employee after he has already left India and has no bank account in India by the time the assessment orders are passed, the refund can be issued to the employer as the tax has been borne by it [Circular No. 707 dated 11.07.1995].

4.11.2 In respect of non-residents, the salary paid for services rendered in India shall be regarded as income earned in India. It has been specifically provided in the Act that any salary payable for rest period or leave period which is both preceded or succeeded by service in India and forms part of the service contract of employment will also be regarded as income earned in India.

5. COMPUTATION OF INCOME UNDER THE HEAD “SALARIES”

5.1 INCOME CHARGEABLE UNDER THE HEAD “SALARIES”:

(1) The following income shall be chargeable to income-tax under the head “Salaries” :

(a) any salary due from an employer or a former employer to an assessee in the previous year, whether paid or not;

(b) any salary paid or allowed to him in the previous year by or on behalf of an employer or a former employer though
not due or before it became due to him.

(c) any arrears of salary paid or allowed to him in the previous year by or on behalf of an employer or a former
employer, if not charged to income-tax for any earlier previous year.

(2) For the removal of doubts, it is clarified that where any salary paid in advance is included in the total income of any person for any previous year it shall not be included again in the total income of the person when the salary becomes due.

Any salary, bonus, commission or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by, a partner of a firm from the firm shall not be regarded as “Salary”.

5.2 DEFINITION OF “SALARY”, “PERQUISITE” AND “PROFIT IN LIEU OF SALARY” (SECTION 17):


5.2.1  “Salary” includes:-

i. wages, fees, commissions, perquisites, profits in lieu of, or, in addition to salary, advance of salary, annuity or pension, gratuity, payments in respect of encashment of leave etc.

ii. the portion of the annual accretion to the balance at the credit of the employee participating in a recognized provident fund as consists of {Rule 6 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule of the Act}:

contributions made by the employer to the account of the employee in a recognized provident fund in excess of 12% of the salary of the employee, and

interest credited on the balance to the credit of the employee in so far as it is allowed at a rate exceeding such rate as may be fixed by Central Government. [w.e.f. 01-09-2010 rate is fixed at 9.5% – Notification No SO 1046(E) dated 13-05-2011]

 iii. the contribution made by the Central Government or any other employer to the account of the employee under the New Pension Scheme as notified vide Notification F.N. 5/7/2003- ECB&PR dated 22.12.2003 (enclosed as Annexure VII) referred to in section 80CCD (para 5.5.3 of this Circular).

It may be noted that, since salary includes pension, tax at source would have to be deducted from pension also, unless otherwise so required. However, no tax is required to be deducted from the commuted portion of pension to the extent exempt under section 10 (10A).

Family Pension is chargeable to tax under head “Income from other sources” and not under the head “Salaries”. Therefore, provisions of section 192 of the Act are not applicable. Hence, DDOs are not required to deduct TDS on family pension paid to person.

5.2.2 Perquisite includes:

I. The value of rent free accommodation provided to the employee by his employer;

II. The value of any concession in the matter of rent in respect of any accommodation provided to the employee by his employer;

III. The value of any benefit or amenity granted or provided free of cost or at concessional rate in any of the following cases:

i) By a company to an employee who is a director of such company;

ii) By a company to an employee who has a substantial interest in the company;

iii) By an employer (including a company)to an employee, who is not covered by (i) or (ii) above and whose income under the head “Salaries” (whether due from or paid or allowed by one or more employers), exclusive of the value of all benefits and amenities not provided by way of monetary payment, exceeds Rs.50,000/-.

[What constitutes concession in the matter of rent have been prescribed in Explanations 1 to 4 below section 17(2)(ii) of the Act]

IV. Any sum paid by the employer in respect of any obligation which would otherwise have been payable by the assessee.

V. Any sum payable by the employer, whether directly or through a fund, other than a recognized provident fund or an approved superannuation fund or other specified funds u/s 17, to effect an assurance on the life of an assessee or to effect a contract for an annuity.

VI. The value of any specified security or sweat equity shares allotted or transferred, directly or indirectly, by the employer, or former employer, free of cost or at concessional rate to the employee and for this purpose, .

(a) “specified security” means the securities as defined in section 2(h) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 and, where employees’ stock option has been granted under any plan or scheme therefor, includes the securities offered under such plan or scheme;

(b) “sweat equity shares” means equity shares issued by a company to its employees or directors at a discount or for consideration other than cash for providing know-how or making available rights in the nature of intellectual property rights or value additions, by whatever name called;

(c) the value of any specified security or sweat equity shares shall be the fair market value of the specified security or sweat equity shares, as the case may be, on the date on which the option is exercised by the assessee as reduced by the amount actually paid by, or recovered from the assessee in respect of such security or shares;

(d) “fair market value” means the value determined in accordance with the method as may be prescribed (refer Rule 3(9) of the IT Rules);

(e) “option” means a right but not an obligation granted to an employee to apply for the specified security or sweat equity shares at a predetermined price;

VII.  The amount of any contribution to an approved superannuation fund by the employer in respect of the assessee, to the
extent it exceeds one lakh rupees; and

VIII.  The value of any other fringe benefit or amenity as prescribed in Rule 3.

5.2.2A Rules for valuation of such benefit or amenity as given in Rule 3 are as under : –

I. Residential Accommodation provided by the employer [Rule 3(1)]:-

“Accommodation” includes a house, flat, farm house or part thereof , hotel accommodation, motel, service apartment, guest house, a caravan, mobile home, ship or other floating structure.

(i) For valuation of the perquisite of rent free unfurnished accommodation, all employees are divided into two categories:

(i) For employees of the Central and State governments the value of perquisite shall be equal to the licence fee charged for such accommodation as reduced by the rent actually paid by the employee. Employees of autonomous, semi-autonomous institutions, PSUs/PSEs & subsidiaries, Universities, etc. are not covered under this method of valuation.

(ii) For all others, i.e., those salaried taxpayers not in employment of the Central government and the State government, the valuation of perquisite in respect of accommodation would be at prescribed rates, as discussed below:

a) Where the accommodation provided to the employee is owned by the employer:

Sl NoCities having population as per the 2001 censusPerquisite
1Exceeds 25 lakh15% of salary
2Exceeds 10 lakhs but does not exceed 25 lakhs10% of salary
3For other places7.5 % of salary

b) Where the accommodation so provided is taken on lease/ rent by the employer:

The prescribed rate is 15% of the salary or the actual amount of lease rental payable by the employer, whichever is lower, as reduced by any amount of rent paid by the employee. Meaning of ‘Salary ‘for the purpose of calculation of perquisite in respect of Residential Accommodation :

a. Basic Salary ;

b. Dearness Allowance, or Dearness Pay if it enters into the computation of superannuation or retirement benefit of the employees;

c. Bonus ;

d. Commission ;

e. All other taxable allowances (excluding the portion not taxable ); and

f. Any monetary payment which is chargeable to tax (by whatever name called).

Salary from all employers shall be taken into consideration in respect of the period during which an accommodation is provided. Where on account of the transfer of an employee from one place to another, he is provided with accommodation at the new place of posting while retaining the accommodation at the other place, the value of perquisite shall be determined with reference to only one such accommodation which has the lower value for a period not exceeding 90 days and thereafter the value of perquisite shall be charged for both such

accommodation.

B Valuation of the perquisite of furnished accommodation- the value of perquisite as determined by the above method (in A) shall be increased by-

i) 10% of the cost of furniture, appliances and equipments, or

ii) where the furniture, appliances and equipments have been taken on hire, by the amount of actual hire charges payable and the value so arrived at shall be reduced by any charges paid by the employee himself.

It is added that where the accommodation is provided by the Central Government or any State Government to an employee who is serving on deputation with any body or undertaking under the control of such Government,-

(i) the employer of such an employee shall be deemed to be that body or undertaking where the employee is serving on deputation; and

(ii) the value of perquisite of such an accommodation shall be the amount calculated in accordance with Table in A(ii)(a) above, as if the accommodation is owned by the employer.

C. Furnished Accommodation in a Hotel: The value of perquisite shall be determined on the basis of lower of the following two:

1. 24% of salary paid or payable in respect of period during which the accommodation is provided; or

2. Actual charges paid or payable by the employer to such hotel,

for the period during which such accommodation is provided as reduced by any rent actually paid or payable by the employee.

However, nothing in (C) shall be taxable if following two conditions are satisfied :

1. The hotel accommodation is provided for a total period not exceeding in aggregate 15 days in a previous year, and

2. Such accommodation is provided on an employee’s transfer from one place to another place.

It may be clarified that while services provided as an integral part of the accommodation, need not be valued separately as perquisite, any other services over and above that for which the employer makes payment or reimburses the employee shall be valued as a perquisite as per the residual clause. In other words, composite tariff for accommodation will be valued as per the Rules and any other charges for other facilities provided by the hotel will be separately valued under the residual clause.

Download Complete CBDT Circular TDS on Salary for FY 2016-17 –CIRCULAR NO. 01/2017

.

Book – Income Tax Ready Reckoner AY 2017-18 for guiding TDS on Salary for FY 2016-17

TDS on Salary for FY 2016-17 (Assessment Year 2017-18)

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.