Srinagar, Dec. 14: The Income Tax Department of J&K, in partnership with the district administration of Anantnag, hosted an interactive session and outreach program at the Dak Bungalow in Khanabal.
The event was presided over by the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Srinagar, Rahul Padha, according to a statement released here by an official spokesman. Other department officers in attendance included M. L. Dogra, the Income Tax Officer for Udhampur, Karamvir, the Income Tax Officer for TDS Jammu and Srinagar, and Ankit Dhaka, the Tax Recovery Officer for Srinagar.
The interactive event was attended by around 250 DDOs, account officers, and government personnel from different departments.
M. L. Dogra welcomed everyone and gave a lecture to the audience on the significance of filing ITRs and paying taxes in a truthful manner to start off the proceedings. Additionally, he informed the audience about the Income Tax Department’s geographical authority in their area.
Subsequently, Karamvir addressed the DDOs and Account Officers, raising awareness of their responsibilities with respect to adhering to TDS regulations.
In order to prevent late filing fines and penalties, they were also instructed to submit their quarterly TDS forms on time.
Ankit Dhaka pleaded with the DDOs in attendance to provide Form-16 to their workers only after doing their due diligence and properly verifying the documentation they presented to justify deductions that are allowed under the IT Act.
He stated that the department had observed that many workers submit fake rent receipts for Section 10(13A) deductions, which are related to “House Rent Allowance” paid by their employers to help them pay living expenses in rented housing, even though they reside in housing they own.
According to Ankit, in order to prevent these fraudulent deductions, DDOs should require proper documentation from their staff, such as rent agreements, receipts, PANs of the landlord in the event that rent is paid in excess of Rs. 1 lakh annually, Aadhaar cards to confirm the address listed on rent receipts, and bank statements to confirm actual rent payments.
He said that workers may only get the benefit of HRA up to the qualifying limitations specified in the section after appropriate verifications.
According to Ankit, in a similar vein, benefits under other sections like 80 C (education loan), 80 G (donations to trusts and charitable institutions), 80 GGC (donation to political parties), 80 CCD, 80D (health insurance), 80 DD (treatment of disability), 80DDB (medical treatment), 80 E (education loan), 80EE/80EEA (a loan for house property), 80 EEB (deduction for the purchase of an electric vehicle), and 80 U (deduction in case of disability) may only be granted to qualified workers after pertinent documentary evidence has been verified.
He warned that departmental procedures might be started against individuals who use the supply of false and fraudulent papers to bolster their deduction claims as a deterrent.
Following a thorough discussion of all pertinent subjects, the audience’s questions on the several challenges they were having in adhering to the income tax regulations were addressed and properly answered.
Rahul Padha encouraged everyone in attendance to submit their ITRs accurately and on time in order to prevent receiving stern messages from the department. He also exhorted others, such as their family members, neighbors, and relatives, to pay their taxes honestly and contribute significantly to the development of the country.
Along with their assistance and making all the required preparations to ensure the event’s success, he also expressed his gratitude to the district administration, which is headed by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Sayeed Fakarudin Abid.
