One time relief for Government deductors for late fees

The due date to file TDS/TCS statement for government deductors has been extended by the CBDT for the following financial years:

      (i) FY 2012-13 – 2nd to 4th Quarter

      (ii) FY 2013-14 – 1st to 3rd Quarter

Government deductors require AIN (Accounts Officers Identification Numbers) to file returns. The allotment of AIN was completed in FY 2012-13 due to which many Govt. DDO was not able to file return in time.

Further due to late filing of such returns, TIN-CPC has raised late penalty filing fees notices u/s 234E of the income tax while processing such returns. So to exempt government deductors from late fees u/s 234E of income tax act, CBDT has extended the due date to file the TDS/TCS returns by government deductors. 

The circular issues by CBDT is as follows:

Circular No. 07/2014

F. No. 275/27/2013-IT(B)

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

Department of Revenue

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, the 4th March, 2014

All Chief Commissioners of Income-tax

All Directors General of Income-tax

Sub: Ex-post facto extension of due date for filing TDS/TCS statements for FYs 2012-13 and 2013-14-regarding

1. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (‘the Board’) has received several petitions from deductors/collectors, being an office of the Government (‘Government deductors’), regarding delay in filing of TDS/TCS statements due to late furnishing of the Book Identification Number (BIN) by the Principal Accounts Officers (PAO) / District Treasury Office (DTO) / Cheque Drawing and Disbursing Office (CDDO). This has resulted in consequential levy of fees under section 234E of the Income-Tax Act, 1961( ‘the Act’).

2. The matter has been examined. In case of Government deductors, if TDS/TCS is paid without production of challan, TDS/TCS quarterly statement is to be filed after obtaining the BIN from the PAOs / DTOs / CDDOs who are required to file Form 24G (TDS/TCS Book Adjustment Statement) and intimate the BIN generated to each of the Government deductors in respect of whom the sum deducted has been credited. The mandatory quoting of BIN in the TDS/TCS statements, in the case of Government deductors was applicable from 01-04-2010. However, the allotment of Accounts Officers Identification Numbers (AIN) to the PAOs/DTOs/CDDOs (a pre-requisite for filing Form 24G and generation of BIN) was completed inF.Y. 2012-13. This has resulted in delay in filing of TDS/TCS statements by a large number of Government deductors.

3. In exercise of the powers conferred under section 119 of the Act, the Board has decided to, ex-post facto, extend the due date of filing of the TDS/TCS statement prescribed under subsection (3) of section 200 /proviso to sub-section (3) of section 206C of the Act read with rule 31A/31AA of the Income-tax Rules, 1962. The due date is hereby extended to 31.03.2014 for a Government deductor and mapped to a valid AIN for –

      (i) FY 2012-13 – 2nd to 4th Quarter

      (ii) FY 2013-14 – 1st to 3rd Quarter

4. However, any fee under section 234E of the Act already paid by a Government deductor shall not be refunded.

5. Timely filing of TDS/TCS statements is essential to ensure timely reconciliation of Government accounts and for providing tax credit to the assessees while processing their Income-tax Returns. Therefore, it is clarified that the above extension is a one time exception in view of the special circumstances referred to above. Since the Government deductor and the associated PAO/ DTO/ CDDO belong to the same administrative setup that regulates the clearance of expenditure, the deductors/collectors may be advised to co-ordinate with the respective PAO/DTO/CDDO to ensure timely receipt of BIN/filing of TDS/TCS statements.

6. This circular may be brought to the notice of all officers for compliance.

7. Hindi version shall follow.

(Sandeep Singh)

Under Secretary to Government of India