Finance Act, 2021 inserted two new sections 206AB and 206CCA in the Income-tax Act 1961 which takes effect from the 1st day of July 2021. These sections mandate tax deduction or tax collection at a higher rate in the case of certain non-filers (specified persons). The higher rate is twice the prescribed rate or 5%, whichever is higher.
To implement these two provisions, the tax deductor/collector was required to do the due diligence of satisfying himself if the deductee/collected is a specified person. This would have resulted in an extra compliance burden on such tax deductor/collector. To ease this compliance burden the Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued a new functionality “Compliance Check for Sections 206AB & 206CCA”. This functionality is already functioning through reporting portal of the Income-tax Department (https://report.insight.gov.in).
The tax deductor/collector can feed the single PAN (PAN search) or multiple PANs (bulk search) of the deductee/ coIIectee and can get a response from the functionality if such deductee/collectee is a specified person. For PAN Search, the response will be visible on the screen which can be downloaded in PDF format. For Bulk Search, the response would be in the form of a downloadable file that can be kept for record.
The logic of the functionality has been explained through CBDT Circular No. 11 of 2021 dated 21st June, 2021 available at (https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/communications/circular/circular_11_2021.pdf). The Circular has further eased the burden of the tax deductors/collectors by ensuring that the deductors/collectors need to check the PAN in the functionality at the beginning of the financial year without there being any need to check the PAN of the non-specified person again during that financial year.
With this new functionality, the Government has reiterated its commitment to ease the compliance burden of taxpayers.
Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan AdFree. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates.
