Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

05-January-2012 18:51 IST

Press Note

It has been reported in some sections of the press that the Central Processing Centre , Bangalore  is sending notices for  payment of taxes which are as small as Rs. 1/- , 4/- ,  6/-, causing unnecessary hardship to assesses . It  has been stated that  when the refunds for amounts less than Rs. 100/- are not issued by the Income Tax Department, then the demand for less than Rs. 100/- should also not be collected .

Clarification in this regard is as follows:

Arrear Demand Communication

            The Income Tax Department  has created a central repository of all demands for better demand management as required by Standing Committee of Parliament and C&AG. To achieve this, all officers were asked to collate demand lying at various places viz. IRLA, TMS and manual registers and upload onto CPC portal. This was also part of the annual action plan. Consequently AOs have uploaded the same. During a meeting with Bangalore Chartered Accountants association, it was suggested that taxpayers should also be informed about the same so as to enable them to take necessary action if the outstanding demands were incorrect. This measure was aimed at providing greater transparency. Therefore, a communication has been sent to taxpayers informing them about existing arrears. It may be clarified that this communication is not a demand notice. This measure is, in fact, an assessee -friendly exercise. The Department has also written to all chief commissioners to amend such entries, if found incorrect, when  approached by taxpayers. This would correct the database if a taxpayer has proof of payment etc. As per extant procedure, demand of less than Rs 100 is not enforced but is liable for adjustment against future refunds.     

Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance

New Delhi: Pausa 15, 1933; January  05, 2012

DSM/SS/Hb

Arrear demand communication clarifies notifications are informational, not demand notices; small unpaid amounts are not enforced and adjustable. The Department established a central repository and had assessing officers upload outstanding demands to the CPC portal; taxpayers were sent informational communications about arrears to enable verification and correction, with chief commissioners directed to amend incorrect entries when approached. Very small demands are not enforced but remain liable for adjustment against future refunds, and the outreach is intended as an assessee-friendly transparency measure, not a demand notice.