AMIT BAJAJ ADVOCATE

The VAT forms i.e VAT 15 form has been updated in view of the change in the rate in the PVAT Act on schedule B goods from 4% to 5% and additional surcharge levied @ 10%. The next quatorly VAT Return under the PVAT Act 2005 is due to be filed in the next month of april.

All the software companies dealing in VAT E filling softwares and the dealers, C.As and Lawyers practising PVAT Act and accountants have been waiting for the changes in the VAT return forms in view of the increase in VAT rate from 4% to 5% on schedule B goods and the surcharge levied @ 10% under the PVAT Act 2005. The relevent important changes made in the worksheet of VAT form 15 regarding the changed rate and surcharge is as follows:

Section 62(5) of the PVAT Act 2005 provides for the precondition of deposit of 25% of total amount of tax, penalty and interest , if any before entertaining any appeal. Such condition was also imposed evan on those appealent whose entire goods are detained by the department u/s 51 evan if the value of such detained goods exceed the total amount of tax, penality, interest. In such cases it results in burdening the assessee with another liability.

The Budget for the year 2010-11 has been presented on 26/02/2010. The proposed important changes in Income Tax Act 1961 and rates in the finance bill 2010 are provided here below:

MALE RESIDENT INDIVIDUAL AND HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY (HUF)
SLAB INCOME TAX RATE
Upto Rs. 1,60,000 Nil.

Section 15 of PVAT Act 2005 deals with the Net Tax Payable by a taxable person. Sub section 1 of Section 15 provides that the output tax under PVAT Act shall be adjusted from the Input Tax Credit for determining Net Tax Payable by a taxable Person. If any excess ITC is still left then it is to be adjusted from the CST liability under CST Act 1956 at the option of the taxable person as per section 15(2) of PVAT Act.

Section 15(3) of PVAT Act provides that the Excess ITC if any left after adjustment of output tax or CST liability u/s 15(1) and 15(2) then such ITC shall be adjusted against any outstanding tax, Penality or Interest under PVAT Act 2005 or CST Act 1956 as the case may be.

t is well esteblished principle that the power to levy penality under taxation laws is incidental and ancillary to the power of collection of tax and is provided to make sure the compliance of tax deposits by the assessees. Taxation laws are welfare laws i.e they are for the welfare of the general public at large.

Under section 8(1) of the Central Sales Tax Act 1956 an Interstate sale to a registered dealer can be made at the concessional rate of Central sales tax i.e @2% existing at this time. But for claiming concessional rate of CST the seller needs to produce a declaration in the prescribed form duly filed and signed by the registered dealer in a prescribed form obtained from a prescibed authority.

Any Income derived from a Capital asset movable or immovable is taxable under the head Capital Gains under Income Tax Act 1961. The Capital Gains have been divided in two parts under Income Tax Act 1961. One is short term capital gain and other is long term capital gain.

1.Short Term Capital Gains : If any taxpayer has sold a Capital asset within 36 months and Shares or securities within 12 months of its purchase then the gain arising out of its sales after deducting therefrom the expenses of sale(Commission etc) and the cost of acquistion and improvement is treated as short term capital gain and is included in the income of the taxpayer.

Declared goods are the goods of special importance on which there are certain restrictions placed under CST Act 1956 on imposition of sales tax or VAT by the states. Article286(3)(a) of the Constitution of india authorises parliament to declare some goods as of special importance and to impose restrictions and conditions in regard to power of the states in regard to levy, rates and other incidence of tax on such goods. Exercising this power the Parliament vide section 14 of the Central Sales Tax Act 1956 has declared some goods as of special importance and has placed restrictions u/s 15 of CST Act on the imposition of sales tax or VAT on such goods by the state Governments.

The Government of Punjab,Department of Excise & Taxation has levied Entry tax on 12 new items Punjab Tax on Entry of Goods into Local Areas Act, 2000 (Punjab Act No.9 of 2000) with effect from 05-02-2010 vide notifications dated 01-02-2010. The new goods on which entry tax has been imposed along with the tax rate applicable are summarized hereinafter

Name of Goods Rate Applicable

The Government of Punjab has levied Surcharge/Additional Tax @10% on all the goods under Punjab VAT Act 2005 other than those seecified as declared goods under section 14 of Central sales Tax Act 1956 with effect from 05-02-2010. However this surcharge or additional tax will be levied on Liquor with effect from 01-04-2010.

The VAT rate on goods as mentioned in schedule B has been changed from 4% to 5% with effect from 29-01-2010. As per a Notification issued by the EXCISE AND TAXATION DEPARTMENT, PUNJAB NoS.O. /P.A.8/2005/S.8/2010. dated 29-01-2010 the VAT rate on schedule B goods other than declared goods under PVAT Act 2005 has been enhanced from 4% to 5%. The above notification can be found at the following link of the official website of the Excise and Taxation Department, Punjab

Rules of natural justice are important part of fundamental rights as enshirined in our constitution. Rules of natural justice means fair play in action i.e. to save the citizens from arbitrariness in administrative or quasi judicial action. Rules of natural justice are part of Rule of law as ensured under article 14 of our constitution. Violation of rules of natural justice result in arbitrariness and violation of fundamental rights as provided by our constitution to the citizens of India. The rules of natural justice ensures that any person is not subjected to arbitrariness and justice not only appear to have been done with him but manifestly have been done.

A new rule 51A has been introduced under the Punjab VAT Act 2005 authorizing the commissioner or designated officer under the Act to lock the TIN No of the person registered under the Act. Locking the TIN no means the temporary stoppage of interstate movement of goods of the concerned person for the purpose of verification or further legal action. Temporary stoppage is done by locking the TIN No of the concerned person in the server of the software used by the VAT Department all over the state including at barriers set up at the various borders of the state.

Assesements under Income Tax Act 1961 are made U/S 143, 144, 147, 153. The criterias for selection of cases for scrutiny has been increased. While making the assessement the assessing officer has to appericiate all the facts properly. If there is any misiterprtation of facts it may result in injustice to the assesee. Some times when there is confusion regarding interpretation of facts as appearing in a particular case or confusion regarding any law point the assessing officer tends to consult their senior officials like Additional Commissioners or else. The instructions the senior officials give to the assessing officer orally in such case, the assessing officer is guided by such directions while making assessement or sometimes the assessee also tend to explain their case to the Additional commissioner or joint commissioner especialy when the asssessing officer is guided by the directions of the Additional or Joint commissioner while making the assessement.

ASSESSEMENT NOTICES U/S 29 OF PVAT ACT RECENTLY ISSUED FOR YEAR 2005-2006-LEGALITY OF-

The VAT Department in Punjab has started issuing the notices for assessements for the year 2005-2006 under section 29 of Punjab Value Added Tax Act 2005 to the dealers across the state. The notices u/s 29 of PVAT Act 2005 can be issued within 3 years from the last date for filling of Annual statement i.e VAT 20 of the year concerned or the date on which the return is actually filled whichever is later.

The power of assessement or reassessement of any income chargable to tax that have escaped assessement has been provided under secton 147 r w s 148 of Income Tax Act of 1961.If the assessing officer has the reason to believe that any income chargabale to tax has escaped assessement then the assessing officer may subject to the provisions of section 147 to 153 assesse or reassess such income.

What is reason to believe: Before issuing any notice U/S 148 the assessing officer must have reason to believe that any income chargable to tax has escaped assessement. Reason to believe can not be a reason to suspect merely. There must be a direct nexus between the material coming to the notice of the assessing officer and the formation of the belief that there has been escapement of income of the assessee from assessment in a particular year. The material for formation of belief must be relevent and not vague. The assessing officer must record reasons in writting before issuing notice u/s 148. Mere a reason recorded that "there is a huge concealment of income' or 'For further investigation' without any specific instance of entries or material relevent to the assessee will not constitute a valid reason as it is vague and general in nature.

The Delhi High Court has declared the service tax on renting of immovable property as ultra vires of the finance act. in case of Home Solution Retail India Ltd & ors vs union of India & ors. Evan Though the matter is pending before the SC by special leave petition filed by the central Govt seeking relief against the said order but the said judgement will havefar reaching effects.