INCOME TAX
CIRCULAR NO
04/2011, Dated: July 19, 2011
Subject: - Prior permission under section 281 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to create a charge on the assets of business - issuance of guidelines.
References have been received by the Board regarding issuance of guidelines for granting of prior permission u/s 281 of the I.T. Act, 1961 to transfer or create a charge on the assets of the assessee. The Board has considered the matter and in order to have uniformity on the issue, it has been decided that:
1. The taxpayers should apply in the prescribed form annexed hereto titled Application u/s 281 of the IT Act 1961 which would be available on the departmental website as well as with the Assessing Officers.
2. The taxpayer would have to file the form at least thirty days prior to the proposed date of transaction.
3. The circumstances under which prior permission u/s 281 should be granted by the Assessing Officers are as follows:
(i) If there is no demand outstanding and there is no likelihood of demand arising in the next six months, then the permission should be granted.
(ii) If undisputed demand is outstanding and there is no likelihood of demand arising in next 6 months, then the tax payer should pay the same along with interest due thereon and then permission should be granted.
(iii) If there is disputed demand outstanding, then the tax payer should obtain stay for the same and indemnify the outstanding demand by way of bank guarantee or sufficient assets or by Department retaining the first charge on the assets proposed to be transferred or on which such charge is being created, to the extent of such demand. Thereafter, the permission u/s 281 would be granted by the A.O.
(iv) If demand is likely to arise in the next six month, then the A.O. should explore the possibility of action prescribed u/s 281B.
4. There would be only one level of intervention i.e. at the level of the range head for granting permission. The cases in which A.O. would require such approval would be where
(a) value of assets being transferred or on which charge is being created or
(b) the amount of charge being created is Rs. Ten crores or more.
5. The timelines for granting/refusing permission u/s 281 by the A.O. are as follows:
(i) If there is no demand outstanding and there is no likelihood of demand arising in the next six months, then the A.O. should grant the permission within ten working days of the receipt of the application.
(ii) If undisputed demand is outstanding and there is no likelihood of demand arising in next 6 months, then the A.O. should grant permission within ten working days of payment as in para 3(ii) above.
(iii) If there is disputed demand outstanding and the tax payer has obtained stay and indemnified the demand, then the A.O. should grant the permission within ten working days of the indemnification of the demand.
(iv) If demand is likely to arise in the next six months and the A.O. is considering actions prescribed u/s 281B for the assets excluding the asset under consideration, then the A.O. should grant the permission within fifteen working days of the receipt of the application.
(v) If the taxpayer does not pay the undisputed outstanding demand or his application for stay of disputed demand is rejected or he is unable to indemnify the outstanding demand, the application shall be disposed off within a period of ten working days. In case the permission is not being granted, a speaking and reasoned order conveying refusal would be issued with the approval of the Range head within ten working days of expiry of time given to the taxpayer to pay the undisputed demand or rejection of his stay application, as the case may be.
These time limits should be followed scrupulously by the A.Os.
6. The validity of the letter granting permission u/s 281 would be:
(i) One hundred and eighty days from the date of issue of approval, or
(ii) Service of order of attachment u/s 281B whichever is earlier.
7. Once the asset is transferred or charge is created, the tax payer should submit the documents, in this regard, to the A.O. for his record.
8. This circular shall come into force with immediate effect.
F.No.402/69/2010-ITCC
(Shanker Lal)
Under Secretary (ITCC),
Central Board of Direct Taxes
APPLICATION U/S 281- INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions for Application u/s 281 of the IT Act, 1961
1. This form needs to be used by the tax payer to seek permission from the Assessing Officer before creating a charge or parting with the possession of an asset. According to Section 281, no tax payer shall make a sale or mortgage or gift or exchange or any other mode of transfer of any asset in favour of any other person, during the pendency of any proceedings or after the completion of proceedings, but before service of notice under Rule 2 of the Second Schedule. However, the following exceptions are provided in the Act:
The transfer is made for adequate consideration and without any notice of proceedings or pendency of tax
The previous permission of the Assessing Officer is obtained
The tax payable does not exceed Rs 5000/- and the value of the asset does not exceed Rs 10000/-
2. Asset means land, building, plant, machinery, shares, securities and fixed deposits in bank (other than Stock in trade )
3. " Previous Year" is the financial year (1st April to the following 31" March) during which the income in question has been earned. "Assessment Year" is the financial year immediately following the previous year
4. Scheme of the Form
The form has been divided into four parts, the details of the same are provided below,
i. Part A seeks general information requiring identificatory and other data
ii. Part B seeks the position of outstanding demand as on the date of Application
iii. Part C seeks particulars of assets as on the date of application
iv. Part D seeks the particulars of the proposed transaction(s) transferring the assets/creating charge for which permission is sought
5. Item by Item Instructions Part A
A1-A3: In case of Individual, fill your First name, Middle name and Last name in Al, A2 & A3 as per details entered in PAN Card. In any other case, use the space given in A1-A3 to fill the name of the person
A4: In case of Individual, indicate the Date the birth. In others, indicate the date of incorporation. The format should always be in DD-MM-YYYY
A5-A11: Fill in the communication Address. All -PIN CODE is mandatory to enable faster communications from/with the department
A12: Indicate your email address
A13: Fill the STD code in the first five digits and then the telephone no. in the next eight digits. No Special Characters or Alphabets are allowed in A13
A14: Fill the Country code in the first two digits and then fill the 10 digit mobile number in the next ten digits. No special characters or Alphabets are allowed in A16
A15: Shade the appropriate circle
A16: Shade the appropriate circle
A17: Fill in the Ward/Circle. Example: Ward 15(1), Circle 14(1)
Part B
Indicate the Assessment Year in which the demand was raised in Column i. This should be of the format 2010-11, 2011-12.
Indicate the Section under which Demand was raised in Column ii.
A detailed list of various demand section is given below.
Demands under various section |
Description |
115O |
Tax on distributed profits of domestic companies. |
115P |
Interest payable for non-payment of tax by domestic companies. |
115R |
Tax on distributed income to unit holders. |
115S |
Interest payable for non-payment of tax u/s 115R |
115WE(1) |
Summary Assessment-Fringe Benefits Tax |
115WE(3) |
Regular Assessment-Fringe Benefit Tax |
115WF |
Best judgment assessment-FBT |
115WG |
Fringe benefits escaping assessment |
115WK |
Interest for default in furnishing return of fringe benefits |
144 |
Best judgment assessment |
147 |
Income escaping assessment |
148 |
Issue of notice where income has escaped assessment |
154 |
Rectification of mistake |
139(1) |
Time Limit for filing the Return |
139(4) |
Belated Return |
142(1) |
Inquiry before assessment |
143(1) |
Summary Assessment |
143(3) |
Regular Assessment |
153A |
Assessment in case of search |
153C |
Assessment of income of any other person |
158BA |
Assessment of undisclosed income as a result of search |
158BFA |
Levy of interest and penalty in certain cases |
174 |
Assessment of persons leaving India |
174A |
Assessment of association of persons or body of individuals or artificial juridical person formed for a particular event or purpose |
175 |
Assessment of persons likely to transfer property to avoid tax |
184 |
Assessment as a firm |
201 |
Consequences of failure to deduct or pay |
220(2) |
Interest in case demand not paid within 30 days from the date of service |
220 |
Interest in case demand not paid within 30 days from the date of service |
221 |
Penalty payable when tax in default |
254 |
Orders of Appellate Tribunal |
263 |
Revision of orders prejudicial to revenue passes by Commissioner |
264 |
Revision of other orders by Commissioner |
271 |
Failure to furnish returns, comply with notices, concealment of income, etc. |
271(1)(b) |
Failure to comply with a notice under sub-section (2) of section 115WD or under sub-section (2) of section 115WE or under sub-section (1) of section 142 or sub-section (2) of section 143 or fails to comply with a direction issued under sub-section(2A) of section 142 |
271(1)(c) |
Concealment of the particulars of income, or furnishing inaccurate particulars thereof. |
271(1)(d) |
has concealed the particulars of the fringe benefits or furnished inaccurate particulars of such fringe benefits |
271A |
Failure to keep, maintain or retain books of account, documents, etc. |
271AA |
Penalty for failure to keep and maintain information and document in respect of international transaction |
271AAA |
Penalty where search has been initiated |
271B |
Failure to get accounts audited |
271BA |
Penalty for failure to furnish report under section 92E |
271BB |
Failure to subscribe to the eligible issue of capital |
271C |
Penalty for failure to deduct tax at source |
271CA |
Penalty for failure to collect tax at source |
271D |
Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269SS |
271E |
Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269T |
271F |
Penalty for failure to furnish return of income |
271FA |
Penalty for failure to furnish annual information return |
271FB |
Penalty for failure to furnish return of fringe benefits |
271G |
Penalty for failure to furnish information or document under section 92D |
272A |
Penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, furnish information, returns or statements, allow inspections, etc. |
272AA |
Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 133B |
272B |
Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 139A |
272BB |
Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 203A |
272BBB |
Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 206CA |
273 |
False estimate of, or failure to pay, advance tax |
275A |
Contravention of order made under sub-section (3) of section 132 |
275B |
Failure to comply with the provisions of clause (iib) of subsection (1) of section 132 |
276 |
Removal, concealment, transfer or delivery of property to thwart tax recovery |
276A |
Failure to comply with the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 178 |
276AB |
Failure to comply with the provisions of sections 269UC 269UE and 269UL |
276B |
Failure to pay tax to the credit of Central Government under Chapter XII-D or XVII-B |
276BB |
Failure to pay the tax collected at source |
276C |
Wilful attempt to evade tax, etc. |
276CC |
Failure to furnish returns of income |
276CCC |
Failure to furnish return of income in search cases |
276D |
Failure to produce accounts and documents |
277 |
False statement in verification etc. |
277A |
Falsification of books of account or document, etc. |
278 |
Abetment of false return, etc. |
278A |
Punishment for second and subsequent offences |
278B |
Offences by companies |
278C |
Offences by Hindu undivided families |
Indicate the value of the Outstanding Demand in Column iii
Indicate the details of stay of demand in Column iv
Part C
Indicate the type of asset in column i. The following types of assets can be indicated
i. Land
ii. Building
iii. Plant and Machinery
iv. Shares and Securities
v. Fixed Deposits in Bank
The above assets should not form part of the Stock in Trade
Indicate the particulars of place where the asset is situated in column ii. Complete Address where the Assets are situated needs to be furnished
Part D
D1: Indicate the name of the party/parties with whom the transaction is proposed
D2: Give the complete Address of the party/parties with whom the transaction is proposed
D3: Give the PAN of the Party/Parties with whom the transaction is proposed. If there are multiple PAN's, then indicate in the space after the boxes provided for writing PAN
D4: Indicate the details of all the Assets proposed to be transferred or for which a charge is to be created
D5: Fill the expected date of transfer or creation of charge
D6: If applicable, fill the period for which the charge is being created
D7: Fill any other information considered relevant by the tax payer
D8: Fill the appropriate circle
D9: Explain in detail, how the tax payer proposes to pay or indemnify the Income Tax Department for outstanding demand disclosed. The tax payer should submit his latest asset/liability statement including the guarantees given by him.