Under the Income Tax Act of India, various financial transactions are subject to reporting requirements to the Income Tax Department. These transactions, which exceed specified thresholds, are reported by the respective entities to the Income Tax Department, and the details of these transactions are compiled into the Annual Information Statement (AIS) for individual taxpayers. Here are some common transactions and their respective thresholds that are reported under the AIS:
- Bank Transactions:
- Cash deposits or withdrawals aggregating to Rs. 10 lakh or more in a financial year in one or more savings account of a person maintained with the same bank.
- Payment made by any mode (other than cash) for credit card bills aggregating to Rs. 10 lakh or more in a financial year.
- Purchase of bank drafts or pay orders with cash aggregating to Rs. 10 lakh or more in a financial year.
- Mutual Fund Transactions:
- Redemption of units of mutual fund for an amount exceeding Rs. 10 lakh.
- Stock Transactions:
- Sale or purchase of shares of a company listed on a recognized stock exchange exceeding Rs. 10 lakh in value per transaction.
- Property Transactions:
- Purchase or sale of immovable property valued at Rs. 30 lakh or more.
- Receipt of rent exceeding Rs. 2.40 lakh per annum.
- Credit Card Transactions:
- Payment made by any mode (other than cash) for credit card bills aggregating to Rs. 10 lakh or more in a financial year.
- Foreign Exchange Transactions:
- Purchase of foreign currency or traveler’s cheque exceeding Rs. 10 lakh or more in cash.
- Fixed Deposit Transactions:
- Fixed deposit with banks or post office aggregating to Rs. 10 lakh or more.
- Cash Transactions:
- Cash deposits aggregating to Rs. 10 lakh or more in a financial year in one or more saving account of a person maintained with the bank.
- Cash deposits aggregating to Rs. 50 lakh or more in a financial year in one or more accounts (other than current account and time deposit) maintained with the bank.
Reporting and Compliance:
- Annual Information Statement (AIS): The details of these high-value transactions are compiled into the Annual Information Statement (AIS) for individual taxpayers and are made available for download through the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal.
- Verification and Compliance: Taxpayers are required to verify the accuracy and completeness of the high-value transactions reported in their AIS. Any discrepancies or omissions should be rectified promptly to ensure compliance with tax laws.
- Income Tax Return Filing: Taxpayers must accurately report all high-value transactions in their income tax returns and ensure compliance with tax laws. Failure to disclose these transactions may attract penalties or scrutiny by tax authorities.
The Annual Information Return (AIR) serves as a crucial tool for the Income Tax Department to track high-value financial transactions and ensure tax compliance among taxpayers. When significant discrepancies are identified between the information reported in the AIR and the income tax returns filed by taxpayers, the Income Tax Department may issue a notice to investigate and resolve the discrepancies. Taxpayers are required to respond to such notices promptly and provide the necessary clarification or information to address the discrepancies and ensure compliance with tax laws. It’s essential for taxpayers to accurately report their financial transactions and income to avoid potential penalties or scrutiny by tax authorities