Clarification regarding deduction of TDS under section 192 read with sub-section (1A) of section 115BAC of the Income-tax Act, 1961
Circular No. 4/2023 was issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes on 5 April 2023. Its subject is Clarification regarding deduction of TDS under section 192 read with sub-section (1A) of section 115BAC of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
This is a clarification. The Board is stating how it reads a provision. That reading binds the department; it does not bind a court, and where the section says otherwise the section wins.
Tells employers how to deduct tax from salary once the regime under section 115BAC(1A), inserted by the Finance Act, 2023 with effect from assessment year 2024-25, became the default. The employer must ask each employee for his intended tax regime, the employee must intimate it for each year, and the employer then computes total income and deducts accordingly. If the employee gives no intimation, the employer is to presume the employee remains in the default regime and deduct at the rates in section 115BAC(1A). The intimation is not the exercise of the option to opt out under section 115BAC(6), which must be made separately in the manner that sub-section provides. The circular supersedes Circular No. C1 of 2020 dated 13 April 2020 and applies to deduction during financial year 2023-24 and later years.
Representations were received that an employer deducting tax under section 192 would not know whether the employee intended to opt out of the new regime, and the Board acted under section 119 to avoid genuine hardship.
F. No.370142/06/2023-TPL Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Central Board of Direct Taxes (TPL Division) Circular No. 04 of 2023 Dated: 5th April, 2023 Sub: Clarification regarding deduction of TDS under section 192 read with sub-section (IA) of section 115BAC of the Income-tax Act, 1961 - reg. Vide Finance Act, 2023, sub-section (lA) has been inserted in section 115BAC of the Income-tax Act, 1961 ( the Act) to provide for a new tax regime with effect from the assessment year beginning on or after the 1 st day of April, 2024. This regime applies to an individual or Hindu undivided family or association of persons [other than a cooperative society] or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or an artificial juridical person. Under this new regime, the income-tax in respect of the total income of the person shall be computed at the rates provided in sub-section (1 A) of section 115BAC, subject to certain conditions, including the condition that the person does not avail of specified exemptions and deductions. 2. The above mentioned new tax regime is the default tax regime applicable to all persons mentioned above. However, under sub-section (6) of section 115BAC of the Act, a person may exercise an option to opt out of this tax regime. A person not having income from business or profession can exercise this option every year. 3. Representations have been received expressing concerns regarding tax to be deducted at source (TDS) on salary income of a person under section 192 of the Act as the deductor, being an employer, would not know if the person, being an employee, would opt out from taxation under sub-section (1 A) of section 115BAC ofthe Act or not. 4. In order to avoid the genuine hardship in such cases, the Board, in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Act, hereby directs that a deductor, being an employer, shall seek information from each of its employees having income under section 192 of the Act regarding their intended tax regime and each such employee shall intimate the same to the deductor, being his employer, regarding his intended tax regime for each year and upon intimation, the deductor shall compute his total income, and deduct tax at source thereon according to the option exercised. 5. If intimation is not made by the employee, it shall be presumed that the employee continues to be in the default tax regime and has not exercised the option to opt out of the new tax regime. Accordingly, in such a case, the employer shall deduct tax at source, on income under section 192 of the Act, in accordance with the rates provided under sub-section (lA) of section 115BAC of the Act. 6. It is also clarified that the intimation would not amount to exercising option in terms of sub-section (6) of section 115BAC of the Act and the person shall be required to do so separately in accordance with the provisions of the sub-section. 7. This circular is in supersession of Circular No. Cl of2020 dated 13.04.2020 and shall be applicable for TDS during the financial year 2023-24 and subsequent years. Copy to the: 1. PSI OSD to FM/ PS/OSD to MoS(F). 2. PS to the Finance Secretary. 3. Chairman and Members, CBDT. Vipul ~ Agarwal Director(TPL-I) 4. Joint Secretaries/ CsIT/ Directors/ Deputy Secretaries/ Under Secretaries, CBDT. 5. C&AO ofIndia (30 copies). 6. JS & Legal Adviser, Ministry of Law & Justice. New Delhi. 7. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. 8. CIT (M&TP). Official Spokesperson of CBDT. 9. Principal DOIT (Systems) for uploading on departmental website. Vipul Agarwal Director(TPL-I)
In a salary TDS review or a short-deduction order on an employer, and in explaining to an employee why tax was deducted at the new regime rates when he filed his return under the old one.
It mentions. Circular No. 04/2023
Source: the Income Tax Department’s own published text — its page for this instrument.