Wednesday, April 27, 2016

CBDT clarifies that officer below the rank of JCIT can’t initiate penalty proceedings u/s 271D or 271E

SECTION 271D, READ WITH SECTION 271E, OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 - FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF SECTION 269SS - PENALTY FOR - COMMENCEMENT OF LIMITATION FOR PENALTY PROCEEDINGS UNDER SECTIONS 271D AND 271E
CIRCULAR NO.9/DV/2016 [F.NO.279/MISC./M-116/2012-ITJ], DATED 26-4-2016
It has been brought to the notice of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (hereinafter referred to as the Board) that there are conflicting interpretations of various High Courts on the issue whether the limitation for imposition of penalty under sections 271D and 271E of the Income tax Act, 1961 (hereafter referred to as the Act) commences at the level of the Assessing Officer (below the rank of Joint Commissioner of Income Tax.) or at level of the Range authority i.e. the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax./Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax.
Some High Courts have held that the limitation commences at the level of the authority competent to impose the penalty i.e. Range Head while others have held that even though the Assessing Officer is not competent to impose the penalty, the limitation commences at the level of the Assessing Officer where the Assessing Officer has issued show cause notice or referred to the initiation of proceedings in assessment order.

2. On careful examination of the matter, the Board is of the view that for the sake of clarity and uniformity, the conflict needs to be resolved by way of a "DepartmentalView".

Tips collected by hotel from customers and paid to employees couldn’t be taxable as salary: SC

Issue

“Whether tips collected by a hotel from customers and paid to employees could be chargeable as salary in hands of employees?”