Saral version II is simpler

T. N. Pandey
(The author is a former chairman of CBDT.)

While presenting the Budget for 2010-11, the Finance Minister (vide para 122 of the Budget speech) made the following announcement concerning simplification of return forms: “I mentioned last year that the income-tax return forms should be simple and user-friendly. The Income-Tax Department is now ready to notify SARAL-II form for individual salaried taxpayers for the coming assessment year. This form will enable individuals to enter relevant details in a simple format in only two pages.”


The form — Saral-II (ITR-1) — has since been notified.

Salient aspects
Applicability: This form can be used for the assessment year 2010-11. It can be filed by individuals having income from salary or pension; income from one house property (excluding loss brought forward from previous year); and income from other sources (excluding winning from lottery and income from race).
Contents: As in the cases of other returns, the particulars concerning the assessee have to be furnished under the headsname; PAN; address (including e-mail address); designation of the assessing officer; whether the return is original return or a revised one; andresidential status.
Details of income chargeable under the heads:
(i) salaries and pension,
(ii) income from house property,
(iii) income from other sources (minus sign is to be shown if the result under (ii) and (iii) above is loss).
Also included are details of: deductions claimed under Sections 80C, 80CCC, 80CCD, 80D, 80DD, 80DDB, 80E, 80G, 80GG, 80GGA, 80GGC and 80U; and total income. Total income is to be computed after making the deductions. On the taxable income, tax is to be calculated, which shall be inclusive of secondary and higher education cess.

From the tax so calculated, amount of reliefs admissible under Sections 89 and 90/91 are to be deducted and interest payable under Sections 234A, 234B and 234C is to be added to arrive at the figure of tax payable or tax refundable.

Further details

Bank account number with MICR Code and nature of account. And details of tax deducted at source under the following heads:

In the cases of salaries/pension: Tax Deduction Account (TAN) of the employer; name and address of the employer; income chargeable under the head salaries and pension; deductions under Chapter-VI-A; tax payable, including education cess; total tax deducted at source; amount of tax payable or refundable.

Details of tax deducted at source from incomes, other than salary and pension: TAN; amount paid or credited; date of payment/credit; total tax credited; and amount of tax, out of that, deducted for which credit is being claimed in the assessment year.

Details of advance tax paid under the following heads for each instalment: Name of bank and branch, where payment is made; BSR Code of the bank; date of deposit; serial numbers of challan; and amounts paid.

Details of other information: Under this head, details about transactions, for which information is available to the I-T Department, through the Annual Information Returns, required to be filed under Section 285BA of the I-T Act, 1961, is to be given under the Code numbers 001 to 008.

In the last part of the return, details of incomes claimed to be exempt from dividends, capital gains, and others are to be mentioned.

Verification: The last portion in the return relates to verification that the contents of the return are truly stated in accordance with the provisions of the I-T Act, 1961.

The Finance Minister needs to be complimented for simplifying Saral. This will held increase voluntary compliance and improve the image of the I-T Department among taxpayers.

Source: The Hindu Businessline, 10th May 2010, Delhi edition