PAN is compulsory for some specified transactions
The Government in its commitment to curb the circulation of black money and widening of tax base has made quoting of PAN compulsory for specified transactions.. To collect information of certain types of transactions from third parties in a non-intrusive manner, the Income-tax Rules require quoting of Permanent Account Number (PAN) where the transactions exceed a specified limit. Persons who do not hold PAN are required to fill a form and furnish any one of the specified documents to establish their identity.
Quoting of PAN will be required for transactions of an amount exceeding Rs.2 lakh regardless of the mode of payment.
The changes to the Rules are effective from 1st January, 2016.
A chart highlighting the key changes to Rule 114B of the Income-tax Act is attached.
Sl. NATURE OF TRANSACTION MANDATORY QUOTING OF PAN (RULE 114B)
Requirement upto 31.12.2015 New requirement w.e.f. 01.01.2016
1. Immovable property Sale/ purchase valued at Rs.5 lakh or more i. Sale/ purchase exceeding Rs.10 lakh;
ii. Properties valued by Stamp Valuation authority at amount exceeding Rs.10 lakh will also need PAN.
2 Motor vehicle (other than two wheeler) All sales/purchases No change
3. Time deposit Time deposit exceeding Rs.50,000/- with a banking company i. Deposits with Co-op banks, Post Office, Nidhi, NBFC companies will also need PAN;
ii. Deposits aggregating to more than Rs.5 lakh during the year will also need PAN
4. Deposit with Post Office Savings Bank Exceeding Rs.50,000/- Discontinued
5. Sale or purchase of securities Contract for sale/purchase of a value exceeding Rs.1 lakh No change
6. Opening an account (other than time deposit) with a banking company. All new accounts. i. Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account excluded (no PAN requirement for opening these accounts);
ii. Co-operative banks also to comply
7. Installation of telephone/ cellphone connections All instances Discontinued
8. Hotel/restaurant bill(s) Exceeding Rs.25,000/- at any one time (by any mode of payment) Cash payment exceeding Rs.50,000/-.
9. Cash purchase of bank drafts/ pay orders/ banker’s cheques Amount aggregating to Rs.50,000/- or more during any one day Exceeding Rs.50,000/- on any one day.
10. Cash deposit with banking company Cash aggregating to Rs.50,000/- or more during any one day Cash deposit exceeding Rs.50,000/- in a day.
11. Foreign travel Cash payment in connection with foreign travel of an amount exceeding Rs.25,000/- at any one time (including fare, payment to travel agent, purchase of forex) Cash payment in connection with foreign travel or purchase of foreign currency of an amount exceeding Rs.50,000/- at any one time (including fare, payment to travel agent)
12. Credit card Application to banking company/ any other company/institution for credit card No change.
Co-operative banks also to comply.
13. Mutual fund units Payment of Rs.50,000/- or more for purchase Payment exceeding Rs.50,000/- for purchase.
14. Shares of company Payment of Rs.50,000/- or more to a company for acquiring its shares i. Opening a demat account;
ii. Purchase or sale of shares of an unlisted company for an amount exceeding Rs.1 lakh per transaction.
15. Debentures/ bonds Payment of Rs.50,000/- or more to a company/ institution for acquiring its debentures/ bonds Payment exceeding Rs.50,000/-.
16. RBI bonds Payment of Rs.50,000/-or more to RBI for acquiring its bonds Payment exceeding Rs.50,000/-.
17. Life insurance premium Payment of Rs.50,000/- or more in a year as premium to an insurer Payment exceeding Rs.50,000/- in a year.
18. Purchase of jewellery/bullion Payment of Rs.5 lakh or more at any one time or against a bill Deleted and merged with next item in this table
19. Purchases or sales of goods or services No requirement Purchase/ sale of any goods or services exceeding Rs.2 lakh per transaction.
20. Cash cards/ prepaid instruments issued under Payment & Settlement Act No requirement Cash payment aggregating to more than Rs.50,000 in a year.
Where a person, entering into any transaction referred above, is a minor and who does not have any income chargeable to income-tax, he shall quote the permanent account number (PAN) of his father or mother or guardian, as the case may be, in the document pertaining to the said transaction.
Further, where any person who does not have a PAN and who enters into any transaction specified above, he shall make a declaration in Form 60 giving therein the particulars of such transaction.
The above changes in the rules are expected to be useful in widening the tax net by non-intrusive methods. They are also expected to help in curbing black money and move towards a cashless economy.
These provisions have made additional compliances for the assesses. They are already overburdened with the existing compliances under various laws. Is it ‘ Ease of doing business’?