INCOME TAX

Whether certificate issued under section 197(1) will be applicable only in respect of credit or payments, as the case may be, subject to tax deduction at source, made on or after date of such certificate

Circular : No. 774, dated 17-3-1999.

1. Section 197(1) of the Act envisages that, where tax is deductible at source in terms of sections 192, 193, 194, 194A, 194D, 194-I, 194K and 195 of the Income-tax Act, and the recipient justifies the deduction of tax at any lower rate or no deduction of tax to the satisfaction of the Assessing Officer, the Assessing Officer shall issue an appropriate certificate. It has come to the notice of the Board that in certain charges a practice has developed to issue certificates under section 197(1) of the Income-tax Act even after the credit or payment of amounts subject to tax deduction at source. This is not in accordance with the provisions of law.

2. It is, therefore, clarified that the certificate issued under section 197(1) of the Income-tax Act will be applicable only in respect of credit or payments, as the case may be, subject to tax deduction at source, made on or after the date of such certificate. Therefore, no certificate under section 197(1) of the Income-tax Act should be issued after the amounts subject to tax deduction at source stand credited or paid, whichever is earlier.

3. In other words, henceforth, application requesting for certificate under section 197(1) should not be acted upon if submitted after credit/payment of the amount subject to tax deduction at source. However, assessees having genuine hardship in submitting such applications on time may refer to the Board for condonation of delay in terms of section 119(2)(b) of the Income-tax Act.

Circular : No. 774, dated 17-3-1999.