WIDENING AND DEEPENDING OF TAX BASE

Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) on payment by Individual/HUF to contractors and professionals

At present there is no liability on an individual or Hindu undivided family (HUF) to deduct tax at source on any payment made to a resident contractor or professional when it is for personal use. Further, if the individual or HUF is carrying on business or profession which is not subjected to audit, there is no obligation to deduct tax at source on such payment to a resident, even if the payment is for the purpose of business or profession. Due to this exemption, substantial amount by way of payments made by individuals or HUFs in respect of contractual work or for professional service is escaping the levy of TDS, leaving a loophole for possible tax evasion. To plug this loophole, it is proposed to insert a new section 194M in the Act to provide for levy of TDS at the rate of five per cent. on the sum, or the aggregate of sums, paid or credited in a year on account of contractual work or professional fees by an individual or a Hindu undivided family, not required to deduct tax at source under section 194C and 194J of the Act, if such sum, or aggregate of such sums, exceeds fifty lakh rupees  in a year. However, in order to reduce the compliance burden, it is proposed that such individuals or HUFs shall be able to deposit the tax deducted using their Permanent Account Number (PAN) and shall not be required to obtain Tax deduction Account Number (TAN).

This amendment will take effect from 1st September, 2019.

[Clause 46]

 

 

 

TDS on individual and HUF payments to contractors and professionals: new withholding applies above threshold; PAN may be used instead of TAN. Section 194M imposes withholding on payments by individuals and Hindu undivided families to resident contractors and professionals where the aggregate annual payments exceed the statutory threshold; tax is to be deducted at the prescribed withholding rate and may be deposited using the payer's Permanent Account Number, relieving such payers from the requirement to obtain a Tax Deduction Account Number.