Return can be filed without UTN - New TDS rule postponed

CBDT has issued a Press Release in which it has been stated that the Notification No. 31 of 2009 dated 25.3.2009 amending or substituting Rules 30, 31, 31A and 31AA of the Income Tax Rules, 1962 shall be kept in abeyance for the time being.

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi dated 30th June 2009

The Central Board of Direct Taxes have further decided that the Notification No. 31 of 2009 dated 25.3.2009 amending or substituting Rules 30, 31, 31A and 31AA of theIncome Tax Rules, 1962 shall be kept in abeyance for the time being.

Taxpayers filing their income tax returns for assessment year (AY) 2009-10, or any other earlier AY, may continue to file their returns without mentioning the Unique Transaction Number (UTN) as required under the said Notification. The filing of such returns shall be treated as valid and in compliance to the requirements under section 139 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Further, the date from which the Notification No. 31 / 2009 shall become applicable on tax deducted at source (TDS) or tax collected at source (TCS) and deposited during the current financial year shall be notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes subsequently.

All deductors / collectors of TDS / TCS may continue to deposit their TDS / TCS and file their quarterly TDS / TCS returns as per procedure existing prior to issuance of Notification No.31 / 2009 dated 25.3.2009.

How to verify a paid challan

On receipt of the amount, receiving bank will upload the details in the Challan to Government via NSDL through its OLTAS (Online Tax Accounting System) return within 3 working days.

Once deductor makes the payment, he should cross-verify the Amount and CIN that has been uploaded by the receiving Bank to NSDL.

This should be cross-verified by the deductor, with either his TAN number or CIN number provided by bank against each challan.

What is CIN?

Challan Identification Number (CIN) has three parts

1. Seven digit BSR code of the bank branch where tax is deposited
2. Date of Deposit (DD/MM/YY) of tax
3. Serial Number of Challan

Example of CIN:
000076202020832

CIN is stamped on the acknowledgement receipt to uniquely identify the tax payment. CIN has to be quoted in the return of income as a proof of payment. CIN is also to be quoted in any further enquiry. Therefore, you must ensure that CIN (comprising the above three parts) is stamped on the Challan by the bank. If any challan does not contain CIN, immediately contact the Bank and insist on CIN.

If banks does not provide a Proper CIN?
The Reserve Bank of India has already passed an order dated April 1, 2004 making it compulsory for all tax collecting branches of banks to use a rubber stamp acknowledgement that carries CIN. A separate CIN is given for each challan deposited. If the Bank Manager concerned is unable to resolve the issue, you should address your grievance to the Bank's Regional Manager and the Regional Office of RBI.

Steps to verify the challan:

1. Visit www.tin-nsdl.com and click on “Challan Status Enquiry”.
2. Here select either

1. CIN Based View

On entering CIN and amount (optional), deductor can view the following details:

+ BSR Code
+ Date of Deposit
+ Challan Serial Number
+ Major Head Code with description
+ TAN/PAN
+ Name of Tax Payer
+ Received by TIN on (i.e. date of receipt by TIN)
+ Confirmation that the amount entered is correct (if amount is entered)

2. TAN based View:

By providing TAN and financial year, deductor can view the following details:

+ CIN
+ Major Head Code with description
+ Minor Head Code
+ Nature of Payment

If deductor enters the amount against a CIN, the system will confirm whether it matches with the details of amount uploaded by the bank.

3. On getting above details, deductor can consider the result obtained here, irrespective of what has been put in the challan by the bank.

4. If the entry is missing over here, after 3 working days [from the date of issuing counter foil], deductor should contact the Bank Branch to check the matter.