Income Disclosure Scheme – Effective Tax Rate is 45% only (not 31%)
Effective Tax Rate is 45% only (not 31%) under Income Disclosure Scheme 2016
CBDT has clarified in Q No. 6 of Circular 27 of 2016 dated 14th July 2016 that the tax rate will be 45% only and tax has to be paid out of disclosed income to get the immunity. Question No.6 is as under:
Question No.6: With reference to question No. 5 issued vide Circular No. 25 of 2016, wherein it has been stated that the department will not make any enquiry in respect of sources of income, payment of tax, surcharge and penalty, it may be clarified that whether the payment under the Scheme can be made out of undisclosed income without including the same in the income declared, thereby bringing down the effective rate of tax, surcharge and penalty payable under the Scheme to around 31 per cent?
Answer: It is clarified that the intent of the clarification issued vide question No.5 of Circular No. 25 of 2016 was limited to conduct of enquiry by the Department. It in no way intends to modify or alter the rate of tax, surcharge and penalty payable under the Scheme which have been clearly specified in the Scheme itself. Sections 184 & 185 of the Finance Act, 2016 unambiguously provide for payment of tax, surcharge and penalty at the rate of 45 per cent of undisclosed income. This is illustrated by the following example —
In a case a person declares Rs. 100 lakh as undisclosed income, being the fair market value of undisclosed immovable property as on 1st June, 2016 and pays tax, surcharge and penalty of Rs.45 lakh (30 lakh + 7.5 lakh + 7.5 lakh) on the same out of his other undisclosed income. In this case the declarant will not get any immunity under the Scheme in respect of undisclosed income of 45 lakh utilized for payment of tax, surcharge & penalty but not included in the declaration filed under the Scheme. To get immunity under the Scheme in respect the entire undisclosed income of Rs.145 lakh, the declarant has to declare undisclosed income of Rs.145 lakh (Rs.100 lakh being the undisclosed income represented by immovable property and Rs.45 lakh being the payment made from undisclosed income) and pay tax, surcharge and penalty under the Scheme amounting to Rs.65.25 lakh i.e., 45 per cent of Rs.145 lakh.