Income Tax Department suspends an officer for harassing the taxpayer

A complaint was received making serious allegations against Shri D. K. Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, posted at Surendranagar in Gujarat Region for harassing a taxpayer in a scrutiny case with malafide intention. The officer was alleged to have demanded illegal gratification through the taxpayer’s Chartered Accountant for favourably completing the assessment. The audio recordings of conversations were also received which, inter alia, mention the bribe amount being demanded by the officers of the Department for settling the case.

In order to verify the veracity of the allegations, case records were requisitioned immediately by the Vigilance Directorate of CBDT. On examination of the case records, serious lapses and irregularities were found which led credence to the allegations made against the officer. The matter is under investigation.

The Department has zero tolerance to such malpractices and corruption. Pending investigation, the officer has since been placed under suspension.

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Finance

08-December-2017 12:21 IST

Under the provisions of recently introduced section 139AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act), with effect from 01.07.2017, all taxpayers having Aadhaar Number or Enrolment Number are required to link the same with Permanent Account Number (PAN). In view of the difficulties faced by some of the taxpayers in the process, the date for linking of Aadhaar with PAN was initially extended till 31st August, 2017 which was further extended upto 31st December, 2017.

It has come to notice that some of the taxpayers have not yet completed the linking of PAN with Aadhaar. Therefore, to facilitate the process of linking, it has been decided to further extend the time for linking of Aadhaar with PAN till 31.03.2018.

Expected DA and DR Calculator from Jan 2018

Income Tax Exemption 5 lakhs to Pensioners – Clarification

“Exemption of Rs. 5 lakhs per annum to pension income”

Shiv Pratap Shukla

D.O.No.370150/9/2017-TPL

MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

NEW DELHI – 110001

14th November, 2017

Dear Dr. Tharoor ji,

Kindly refer to your D.O.letter No. DO/ST/09/2017/986 dated 26.09.2017 requesting for providing exemption of Rs. 5 lakhs per annum to pension income.

I have got the matter examined. Currently, the basic exemption limit for individual tax payer is Rs. 2,50,000. However, considering the specific needs of the senior citizens, the basic exemption limit for a senior citizen above 60 years is fixed at Rs.3,00,000 and for very senior citizen i.e. above 80 years, the same is fixed at Rs. 5,00,000.

Therefore a pensioner who is a senior citizen is not required to pay any income-tax if his total income, including pension, does not exceed Rs. 3 lakhs. Similarly, a pensioner who is very senior citizen is not required to pay tax if his total income, including pension, does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000. However, the suggestion that pension up to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum should be exempt in all cases would require amendment to the existing provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

Accordingly, the proposal would be examined during the exercise for the ensuing Union Budget, 2018 and the outcome would be reflected in the Finance Bill, 2018.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

(Shiv Pratap Shukla)

Dr. Shashi Tharoor,

Member of Parliament (LS)

116, Block B, Parliament House Annexe Extension,

New Delhi – 110001

Source: NFIR

UFBU MEETING HELD ON 13.11.2017 – AIBEA Circular

UFBU MEETING HELD ON 13-11-2017

UFBU meeting was held in Mumbai in AIBEA Office on 13-11-2017. Com.K.K. Nair, Chairman of UFBU presided over the meeting.

1.Increasing attacks on banking sector: The meeting conveyed its appreciation to all units and members for the massive participation in the Morcha to Parliament programme on 15-9-2017. The meeting noted that Government is planning to further go ahead with their banking reform measures and hence decided that our campaign and struggle should be continued and intensified. While reiterating the decision to launch strike actions if the Government would take any adverse decisions, the meeting decided that State-level campaign should be undertaken to explain all these attacks to our grass-root level members and also to the general public. It was also decided to undertake mass signature campaign for submitting the Petition to Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Details of this programme along with the copy of the Petition will be sent to units shortly.

2. Wage Revision: The meeting took note of the details of the discussions held so far by the IBA with the Workman Unions/Officers Associations. The meeting noted that while some rounds of discussions have taken place on non-financial demands, the IBA was yet to come out to make their initial offer although it is six months since the formal negotiations have begun. Hence it was decided to take up the matter with IBA to immediately hold the meeting of the Negotiating Committee and to make their offer. It was also decided that UFBU representatives shall meet the top management of the Banks who have given restricted mandate for officers to the IBA.

3. Extend support to Two Days Strike in Regional Rural Banks: United Forum of RRB Unions has given a call for two days strike on 11th and 12th December, 2017 on their demands like opposition to privatization of RRBs, extension of PF-Pension Parity for RRB employees and officers, compassionate ground appointments, parity in service conditions at par with sponsor banks, etc. It was decided to extend our support to their strike and their demands as follows:

i. UFBU to address a letter a Finance Minister

ii. Constituent unions to address letter to Finance Minister

iii. Our members to participate in their demonstrations on 11th and 12th December on the strike days.

4. Support to AIBEA-AIBOA Strike on 27th December, 2017: The meeting decided to extend fraternal support to the call given by AIBEA and AIBOA for All India Strike on 27th December, 2017 demanding immediate wage revision for IDBI Bank employees and officers.

UFBU’s LETTER TO CHAIRMAN, IBA

“ You are well aware that on the Charter of Demands submitted by our Employees Unions and Officers Associations, discussions have commenced from May, 2017 and quite a few rounds of discussions have also taken place. Right from the beginning IBA has been expressing that the entire discussions need to be concluded at the earliest, preferably before Diwali festival so that the revised pay scales can be implemented from 1-11-2017. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India have also been issuing frequent communications that the negotiations are to be completed well in time before 1-11-2017.

2. But it is observed that while discussions are taking place on non-financial demands, so far IBA has not made any offer on increase in wages. You will appreciate that increase in wages is the crux

of the Charter of Demands submitted by us and IBA’s silence on this important issue, is a matter of serious concern to all of us.

3. While reiterating our commitment to conclude the discussions early and expedite the Settlement through mutual discussions, we wish to point out that expeditious Settlement is not possible if IBA does not come forward to make their offer on quantum of wage increase and negotiate the same to the satisfaction of all to conclude the Settlement without any further delay.

4. IBA’s reluctance or delay in making the offer on wage revision for the past six months is creating resentment and restlessness among the rank and file of employees and officers and hence it is not desirable to delay it any further. As already requested in the last round of meeting, we urge upon IBA to convene the meeting of the Negotiating Committee immediately, make their initial offer and conclude the settlement expeditiously so that the whole process of wage revision settlement for employees and officers is completed. Looking forward to your positive response ”

With greetings,

Yours Comradely,

C.H. VENKATACHALAM

GENERAL SECRETARY

Source: AIBEA

Guidelines for On-boarding of Organizations on Jeevan Pramaan 

Background: As a Digital India initiative to facilitate Pensioners, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has launched Jeevan Pramaan portal. Now the pensioner need not visit office of Disbursing Agency for physical submission of Life Certificate and may use the Aadhaar enabled Biometric authentication mechanism to generate Digital Life Certificate.

Advantages of Digital Life Certificate (DLCs):

It may be generated from anywhere including home if the Windows/Android based device is having an Internet and STQC certified Bio metric device connected to it is available.

Auto SMS to pensioners regarding DLC.

Auto transfer of DLC to Pension Disbursing Agency.

Sending SMS by Pension Disbursing Agency after processing.

The Pre-requisite for pensions are that their Pension Sanctioning Authority may have to issue order regarding acceptance of DLC and have to on board on the portal along with their Pension Disbursing Agency.

2. Eligibility for on-boarding on Jeevan Pramaan portal.

2.1.Sanctioning Authority

Following Pension Sanctioning Authority can be on boarded:

Apex Offices (such as Offices of the Hon’ble President of India, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India)

Central Government offices.

State/UTs Government Offices.

Autonomous bodies/ Statutory Organizations/ Societies under Central

Government Ministries/Departments/Offices.

Autonomous bodies under State Government Ministries/Departments/Offices.

Central Government/State Government PSUs.

Bodies created through Parliament/State Legislation.

Judicial Organizations.

2.2.Disbursing Agencies

Pension Disbursing Agencies means the Life Certificate processing agency for the pensioner. Following Disbursing Agencies may be eligible for on-boarding:

Banks

Post Offices

State/UTs Government Offices(Treasuries)

Guidelines for On-boarding of Organizations on Jeevan Pramaan

Central Government Offices

Autonomous bodies /Statutory Organizations/Societies PSUs of Central Govt.

Autonomous bodies/ PSUs of State Govt.

Bodies created through Parliament/State Legislation.

Judicial Organizations.

3. On-boarding Process for Sanctioning and Disbursing Authority

Sanctioning Authority has to share the Order related to acceptance of DLC by its disbursing agency.

On-boarding agencies have to upload duly signed form to for on-boarding on the portal for creation of user account.

Sanctioning/Disbursing Agency may get an account to view/monitor DLCs.

Banks will be provided SFTP account on Jeevan Pramaan SFTP servers. Additional forms need to be filled by Banks to get this facilities indicating the IPs to be white listed.

4. Responsibilities of Disbursing Authority

Disbursing Agency on boarded on the system has to download DLCs from the portal on regular basis.

Downloaded DLCs are to be processed in timely manner.

Disbursing Agency may have to send status related DLCs via SMS to the pensioners.

5. Aadhaar Act, 2016

Government of India has enacted Aadhaar Act, 2016.

The sanctioning authorities and Disbursing Agencies have to follow the Aadhaar Act, 2016.

The DLCs data cannot be shared with any Agency other than the pensioners’ Sanctioning and Disbursing Agency (as specified in the consent taken).

The Digital Life certificate is an add-on facility to the existing way of submission of Life Certificate.

6. Government may review above guidelines from time to time to address any emerging needs/ requirements.

7. For any clarification related to Jeevan Pramaan, email may be sent to jeevanpramaan@gov.in