Government of India
Department of Revenue
Ministry of Finance
Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 3rd March, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Clarification in respect of residency under Income-tax Act, 1961

The Central Board of Direct taxes (CBDT) has received various representations requesting for relaxation in determination of residential status for previous year 2020-21 from individuals who had come on a visit to India during the previous year 2019-20 and intended to leave India but could not do so due to suspension of international flights.

The matter has since been examined by CBDT. In this context, Circular No. 2 of 2021 has been issued by CBDT today. Vide the said Circular, it has been provided that if any individual is facing double taxation even after taking into account the relief provided by the relevant Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), he/she may furnish the specified information by 31st March, 2021 in Form –NR annexed to the said Circular. This form is to be submitted electronically to the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (International Taxation). Circular No.2/2021 can be accessed on www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)
Commissioner of Income Tax
(Media & Technical Policy)
Official Spokesperson, CBDT

 

Government of India

Department of Revenue

Ministry of Finance

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 4th March, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Income Tax Department conducts searches in Tamil Nadu

The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operations on 03-03-2021 on two groups of civil contractors in Southern Tamil Nadu. Searches and surveys were conducted in 18 premises mainly in Madurai and Ramnad districts.

Based on intelligence inputs about the existence of cash, which is likely to be distributed for election purposes, searches were mounted on the business groups. The action resulted in the finding of unaccounted cash of Rs. 3 crore which was seized.

Other findings include the identification of the fact that the assessee is booking bogus expenses under various heads to reduce the profits. The declared profits were less than 2% of the turnover, when in actual accounts the profits exceeded 20%. Similarly more than 100 subcontractors were introduced to book expenses to meet illegal payments, and on-money payments for property purchases. These subcontractors introduced, had filed returns of income from the same IP address, and for the first time ever, showing only this receipt as their sole income.

As a result of the search, unaccounted income of Rs. 175 crore has been detected and unaccounted cash of Rs. 3 crore has been seized.

Further investigations are in progress.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)

Commissioner of Income Tax

(Media & Technical Policy)

Official Spokesperson, CBDT

 

Government of India

Department of Revenue

Ministry of Finance

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 1st March, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Income Tax Department conducts searches in Hyderabad

The Income Tax Department carried out search & seizure operations on 24.02.2021on a major Pharmaceutical group based out of Hyderabad.  This Pharmaceutical group is engaged in the business of manufacturing of intermediates, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and formulations.  Majority of the total manufactured products are exported to various countries i.e. USA / Europe.  The search operation was carried out at about 20 locations in 5 States. 

Searches have resulted in seizure of cash amounting to Rs. 1.66 crore. During the search action incriminating evidence in the form of digital media, pen drives, documents, etc. have been found and seized. Incriminating digital evidencesweregathered from SAP @ ERP software maintained by the assessee group.

During these searches, issues relating to purchases made from bogus and non-existent entities, artificial inflation of certain heads of expenditure, alongwith suppression of receipts relating to by-product sale were detected.  Further, evidenceof on-money payment for purchase of lands was also found.  Multiple other legal issues were also identified such as personal expenses being booked in the company’s books and land purchased by related concerns / individuals below govt. SRO value.

The search has led to unearthing of evidence relating to unaccounted income of around Rs.400 croreout of which the assessee group has admitted an additional income of Rs.350 crore.

Further investigations are in progress.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)

Commissioner of Income Tax

(Media & Technical Policy)

Official Spokesperson, CBDT

 

Government of India

Department of Revenue

Ministry of Finance

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 27th February, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Income Tax Department conducts searches in Tamil Nadu

The Income Tax Department conducted searches on a prominent business group   located in Chennai on 26.02.2021. Search was conducted at 11 premises and surveys in 9 premises of the group in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Kolkata. This business group is engaged in the business of manufacture and sale of Tiles and Sanitary-ware and are leaders in Tiles business in South India.

In the course of search, unaccounted sale and purchase of tiles were detected.  Due to the efforts of the search team, details of unaccounted transactions were unearthed in the secret office and the software maintained in the cloud.  In fact, it was found that the transactions to the extent of 50% were out of books. Considering the previous turnover, the suppression of income may be in the range of Rs 120 crore.  This is in addition to Rs 100 crore of undisclosed income introduced by the group as share premium through shell companies.

Total undisclosed income detected so far comes to Rs. 220 crore. Cash of around Rs 8.30 crore was also found and seized.

Search action is still on & investigations are in progress.

The Department is fully prepared to check and monitor the role of money in influencing voters. It remains committed to track the generation of unaccounted cash and its movement in Tami Nadu and Puducherry.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)

Commissioner of Income Tax

(Media & Technical Policy)

Official Spokesperson, CBDT

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(Department of Revenue)

(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 26th February, 2021

S.O. 964(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020 (3 of 2020), the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, (Department of Revenue), number 85/2020, dated the 27th October, 2020, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O. 3847(E), dated 27th October, 2020, namely:––

In the said notification,––

(i) in clause (a), for the figures, letters and words “28th day of February, 2021” the figures, letters and words “31st day of March, 2021” shall be substituted;

(ii) in clause (b), for the figures, letters and words “31st day of March, 2021” the figures, letters and words “30th day of April, 2021” shall be substituted; and

(iii) in clause (c), for the figures, letters and words “1st day of April, 2021” the figures, letters and words “1^st day of May, 2021” shall be substituted.

[Notification No. 09/2021/ F.No. IT(A)/01/2020-TPL]

SHEFALI SINGH, Under Secy., Tax Policy & Legislation Division

Note: The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II Section 3, Sub-section (ii) dated the 27th October, 2020 vide number S.O. 3847(E), dated 27th October, 2020 and was subsequently amended by notification number S.O. 4804(E), dated 31st December, 2020 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II Section 3, Sub-section (ii) dated the 31st December, 2020 and notification number S.O. 471(E), dated 31st January, 2021 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II Section 3, Subsection (ii) dated the 31st January, 2021.