CBDT has issued a Circular on TDS from Salary under 192 for AY 2021-22 (FY 2020-21) vide Circular No. 20/2020 dated 03.12.2020 detailing the procedure to be followed by an employer for deducting TDS from the salary income of employees paid during FY 2020-21 or assessment year (AY) 2021-22. The Circular deals with the Income-tax deduction from salaries during the Financial Year 2020-21 under section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
The circular further prescribes what documentary evidence or proof of investments is required to be taken from the employees by the employer for computing the income from the salary of the employees and what rate the tax should be deducted.
Like every year, the CBDT has issued a circular in this year also prescribing the guidelines to be followed by the employers while deducting the income tax or TDS from the salary income paid to the employees during the FY 2020-21 relevant for the AY 2021-22.
The CBDT's 87-page Circular No. 20/2020 dated 03-12-2020 which is titled as 'DEDUCTION OF TAX AT SOURCE- INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2020-21' contains the gist of all the procedures that an employer is required to be followed while deducting the TDS from the salary income.
It may be reiterated that the instructions contained in the aforesaid CBDT Circular on Salary TDS for FY 2019-20, are not exhaustive and are issued by the CBDT only with a view to guiding the employers to understand the various provisions relating to deduction of tax from salaries.
Wherever there is any doubt, reference may be made to the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Income-tax Rules, 1962, the relevant Finance Acts, the relevant circulars/ notifications, etc.
This note presents a summary of the circular briefing of the detailed contents of the circular instead of repeating the circular itself. Anyone interested to read the entire 87-page Circular, he may download the circular from here.
The Index of the contents of the Circular is reproduced below.
Index
Para No.
1. General
2. RATES OF INCOME-TAX AS PER FINANCE ACT, 2020
2.1 Rates of tax
2.2 Concessional Rates of Tax u/s 115BAC
2.3 Surcharge of Income tax
2.4 Health and Education Cess
3. BROAD SCHEME OF TAX DEDUCTION AT SOURCE FROM SALARIES
3.1 Method of Tax Calculation
3.2 Payment of Tax on Perquisites by Employer
3.2.1 Computation of Average Income Tax
3.2.2 Illustration
3.3 Salary From More Than One Employer
3.4 Relief When Salary Paid in Arrear or Advance
3.5 Information regarding Income under any Other head
16 Computation of income under the head - “Income from house
Property”
3.7 Adjustment for Excess or Shortfall of Deduction
3.8 Salary Paid in Foreign Currency
4 PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEDUCTING TAX AND THEIR DUTIES
4.1 Stipulation or section 204 of the Act
4.1.1 Tax determined to be deducted from Salary u/s 192
4.2 Deduction of Tax at Lower Rate
4.3 Deposit of Tax Deducted
4.4.1 Due dates for payment of TDS
4.4.2 Mode of payment of TDS
4.4.2.1 Compulsory filing of Statement by PAO, Treasury Officer,
etc. in case of payment of TDS by Book Entry u/s 200(2A)
4.4.2.2 Payment by an Income Tax Challan
4.5 Interest Fee, Penalty & Prosecution for Failure to Deposit Tax
Deducted
4.6 Furnishing of Certificate for Tax Deducted (Section 203)
4.7 Mandatory Quoting of Permanent Account Number or Aadhaar
number. as the case may be. and TAN
4.8 Compulsory Requirement to furnish PAN by employee or Aadhaar
number, as the case may be, by employee (Section 206AA)
4.9 Statement of Deduction of tax under of sccticFn 200 (3) [Quarterly
Statement of TDS]
4.10 TDS on Income from Pension
4.11 Matters pertaining to the TDS Tmade in case of Non Resident
5 COMPUTATION OF INCOME UNDER THE HEAD - SALARIES
5.1 Income chargeable under the head “Salaries"
5.2 Definition of “Salary”, “perquisite” and -” profit in lieu of
salary" (Section 17)
5.3 Income not included under the Head “Salaries” (Exemptions)
5.4 Deduction u/s 16 of the Act
5.5 Deductions under Chapter VI-A of the Act
6 REBATE OF RS.125(N) FOR INDIVIDUAL HAVING TOTAL
INCOME UPTO RS. 5 LAKH tSECTON 87A)
7 TDS ON PAYMENT OF ACCUMULATED BALANCE UNDER
RECOGNISED PROVIDENT RIND AND CONTRIBUTION FROM
APPROVED SUPERANNUATION FUND.
8 DDOs TO OBTAIN EVIDENCE /PROOF OF CLAIMS
9 CALCULATION OF INCOME-TAX TO BE DEDUCTED
10 MISCELLANEOUS
ANNEXURE
I SOME ILLUSTRATIONS
II FORM NO 12BA
IIA FORM NO 12BB
III PROCEDURE OF PREPARATION AND FURNISHING FORM 24G
AT TIN-FACILITATION CENTRES (TIN-FCs)
IV THE PROCEDURE OF FURNISHING FORM 24G
V PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING FORM 24G IN CASE OF
STATE GOVT DEPARTMENTS/CENTRAL GOVT
DEPARTMENTS
VI PROCEDURE OF PREPARATION OF QUARTERLY STATEMENT
OF DEDUCTION OF TAX u/s 200(3)
VII DEPTT. OF ECO. AFFAIRS NOTIFICATION DATED 22.12.2013
VIII BOARD'S NOTIFICATION DATED 24.11.2000
IX BOARD'S NOTIFICATION DATED 29.01.2001
X FORM NO. 10BA
The Circular is divided into 10 paras and contains 10 annexures.
Rates of tax
It begins with the rate of tax to be applied for the deduction of TDS from the salary income of the employees. Since employees are individuals, the circular mentions the tax rates for individuals only.
On the income-tax amount, applicable surcharge and Health and Education Cess need to be applied.
The relevant tax rates for AY 2021-22 is prescribed in the Finance Act, 2020.
The income tax slabs for FY 2020-21 are mentioned in this article.
Concessional Rates of Tax u/s 115BAC
Section 115BAC of the Income -tax Act. 1961, inserted by the Finance Act. 2020 w.e.f. Assessment Year 2021-22, inter alia, provides that a person, being an individual or a 11UF may exercise an option in respect of a previous year to be taxed under the said section 115BAC. In case of a person having income from business or profession, such person is required to exercise the option in prescribed manner on or before the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Act for any previous year relevant to assessment year commencing on or after 01.04.2021 and such option once exercised shall apply to subsequent assessment years. However. In the case of such persons, the option once exercised can be withdrawn only once and such person shall never be eligible to exercise the option again unless such person ceases to have income from business or profession. In case of a person having income from any other source apart from business and profession, such person is required to exercise the option in the prescribed manner along with the return of income to be furnished under section 139(1) of the Act for the previous year relevant to the assessment year. The concessional rates of tax provided under section 115BAC are subject to the condition that the total income shall be computed without specified exemptions or deductions, set off of loss and additional depreciation.
Readers are aware that the Finance Act, 2020 has introduced a new provision Section 115BAC in the Income Tax Act, 1961 to provide for a concessional rate of tax on the total income to Individuals and HUFs.
Section 115BAC is optional and can be opted by an Individual or HUF if he forgoes certain deductions and exemptions.
Till FY 2019-20 (or AY 2020-21) there was only one regime of taxation for Individuals and HUFs and are required to compute the taxes on total income as per the rates of tax as specified in the Finance Act of every year.
However, from April 1, 2020, a new tax regime under section 115BAC is parallely introduced to provide for a concessional rate of tax on the total Income. Hence, from AY 2021-22 (or FY 2020-21, there are two operative tax regimes - One is the old tax regime where all the applicable deductions and exemptions are available and the tax rates are as per the rates of tax specified in the Finance Act, 2020.
The second one is section 115BAC which is a new tax regime and claims of many specified deductions and exemptions have been restricted but lower tax rates are provided in the section 115BAC itself.
CBDT has issued a Circular No. C1/2020 dated 13.04.2020 clarifying the process of exercising of option by a taxpayer with regard to deduction of tax at source if he/she opts for the concessional rates of tax as per section 115BAC of Income Tax Act,1961. The same is reiterated in this Circular.
Estimation of Income:
The circular requires every employer paying any income chargeable under the head "Salaries" to deduct income-tax on the estimated income of the assessee under the head "Salaries" for the financial year 2019-20. Hence, every employer is required to estimate the salary income of every employee and on such an estimated income, income-tax deduction is required.
Interchangeability of PAN and Aadhaar
The Union Budget 2019 has made the PAN and Aadhaar interchangeable. It means, if a person does not hold PAN, he can intimate his Aadhaar Number instead of PAN.
In line with the budget announcement, CBDT has issued a notification to give the effect of the same in the income tax law. Vide Notification No. 95/2019 dated 6-11-2019, amendments in Income Tax Rules, 1962 has been made. One of the amendments is that the employer can quote PAN or Aadhaar Number of the employee in Form 16 (TDS certificate for deduction of tax from salary income) as well as in Form 24Q (Quarterly e-TDS return filed by the employer for deduction of tax from salary income).
In the line of the amendment in the Rules, the aforesaid circular also prescribes the employer accept the PAN or Aadhaar Number of the employee.
For calculating the income-tax on estimated salary income for FY 2020-21 applicable income tax rates, the same is subject to the provisions related to the requirement to furnish PAN or Aadhaar number, as the case may be, as per section 206AA of the Income Tax Act.
The tax shall be deducted at the applicable rates at the time of payment of salary to the employee.
No tax shall be required to be deducted if the estimated salary income including the value of perquisites for FY 2020-21 does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000 or Rs.3,00,000 or Rs. 5,00,000, as the case may be, depending upon the age of the employee.
Certain illustrations are given at Annexure-I of the circular.
Salary From More Than One Employer
The current employer is under obligation to obtain details of the income under the head "Salaries" due or received from the former/other employer and also tax deducted at source therefrom, in writing and duly verified by him and by the former/other employers.
Relief to be given When Salary Paid in Arrear or Advance
If the employee is eligible to claim relief u/s 89, then the employer shall obtain Form 10E duly verified by the employee.
Reporting of Income under other heads of income by the employee
If the employee reports any other income, the employer shall consider the same before deducting the income-tax. In case of reporting of loss under any head of income, an employer shall consider only 'Loss from House Property'. Any other loss reported under any other heads of income shall not be considered by the employer.
In the case of income from house property or loss from house property, the employer shall obtain a computation of such income or loss from house property from the employee and the evidence of interest payment in Form 12BB. Further, the employer shall obtain the 'completion certificate' of the house property from the employee.
Note: Though the circular allows the employer to consider income under the other heads, however, Form 16 as amended by Notification No. 36/2019 dated 12.04.2019 allows an employer to report only the income under the following heads of income-
1. Income or Loss from House Property
2. Income from Other Sources
Hence, an employer cannot consider income chargeable under the head ‘Income from business or profession’ or Income chargeable under the head ‘Capital Gains’.
Read more on New Form 16:
Changes in Form 16 for salary TDS certificate for AY 2019-20
Adjustment of excess or short deduction
The employer can adjust the excess or short deduction of income tax from the payment of salary of the subsequent months. It is not necessary to deduct income tax equally over the 12 months period.
Deduction of income-tax at a lower rate
As stated above, the employer shall deduct the income-tax from the payment of salary at the applicable rates. However, if the employee furnishes any lower TDS certificate u/s 197, then the employer shall deduct income tax at such a lower rate.
Duties of Employer
The circular has reminded the employer about his duties with respect to the deduction of income tax from the salary payment. These include deduction of TDS, timely deposit of TDS to the credit of the central government, payment by proper challan, filing of TDS return within the due dates, issue of TDS certificates to the employees in time.
The circular also reiterates the penal consequences in case of default in any of the above duties prescribed in the Act.
The circular also mentions certain guidelines for the proper filing of e-TDS return in Form 24Q.
Proof of deduction claimed
Deductions shall be allowed only after obtaining the necessary proof or evidence of investments and expenditure as claimed by the employee in Form 12BB. Form 12BB is enclosed in the circular. No deduction shall be allowed if any employee fails to submit any proof of investment, etc.
The circular has reproduced the provisions of Income Tax Act and Income Tax Rules for computation of Income from Salary for the employees.
Proof of evidence for LTA exemption claim
The Hon'ble Supreme Court by a judgment dated 21-01-2009 in the case of CIT vs Larsen & Toubro Ltd. in Civil Appeal No. 993 OF 2005 With Civil Appeal No. 992 OF 2005 held that employers while assessing the conveyance and leave & travel allowance (LTA) claims of their staff, are under no statutory obligation to collect supporting evidence and furnish them to tax authorities.
However, after the introduction of Form 12BB, employers have been made obliged to obtain details/evidence in respect of the claim of exemption for leave travel concession or assistance before allowing the said exemption the relevant form for furnishing details by the employee in Form 12BB.
Exemption for Rent Payment against House Rent Allowance
While allowing the claim of rent paid from the HRA of the employee, the employer shall ensure to collect the prescribed information in Form 12BB.
From this year, if the PAN of the landlord is not available then the employee can furnish the Aadhaar Number of the land where aggregate rent paid by the employee during the financial year 2020-21 exceeds Rs. 1,00,000.
Please note that the PAN or Aadhaar number of the landlord is required to be furnished to the employer only. No such requirement is contained in ITR forms notified in ITR-1 or ITR-4 for AY 2021-22.
The employer is required to report the PAN or Aadhaar Number of the landlord in the quarterly e-TDS return filed in Form 24Q.
Read more on HRA Exemption:
HRA Tax Exemption for Rent Paid to Parents and Spouse
HRA Exemption is allowed on actual payment of rent
In this context, it should be noted that the requirement to furnish the PAN or Aadhaar Number of the landlord is required only when the exemption for rent payment is given under section 10(13A) against receipt of House Rent Allowance or HRA.
When such deduction is allowed u/s 80GG the Circular is silent on the requirement of the PAN or Aadhaar Number of the landlord if the aggregate rent payment exceeds Rs. 1,00,000. In this case, only Form 10BA is required. The Form 10BA also requires to mention the name and address of the landlord and not the PAN or Aadhaar Number of the landlord. Form 10BA is mandatory even if the aggregate rent payment does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 in a financial year.
Exemptions and Deductions
The circular discusses all the exemptions and deductions under chapter VI-A which is available to an employee and can be allowed by the employer.
Deduction under section 80TTA or 80TTB shall be allowed by the employer only if the interest income is reported to the employer by the employee in Form 12BB.
For detailed reading, the Circular 20/2020 dated 03-12-2020 on TDS from Salary under 192 for AY 2021-22 may be accessed from here.
Update:
See the CBDT Circular for TDS on Salary for AY 2022-23 (FY 2021-22) here.
Read Further on Section 115BAC:
Is Deduction for NPS available under New Tax Section 115BAC
Is Interest on Home Loan Allowed as Deduction under New Tax Section 115BAC
Section 115BAC Option of New Tax to Employee and TDS by Employer
CBDT Issues Circular to Clarify Option under Section 115BAC and TDS by Employer
New Income Tax Slab Rates after Union Budget 2020
Is New Income Tax Slab Rate for Individuals after Budget 2020 Really Beneficial
New Personal Income Tax Regime after union Budget 2020-21
Section 115BAC on Income Tax Act - New Tax rate for Individuals and HUF
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