CBDT Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme 2018 : incometaxindia.gov.in
Organisation : Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
Facility Name : Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme 2018
Applicable States/UTs : All India
Website : https://incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/tps/informants-rewards-scheme-m.aspx
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What is Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme?
The Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme, 2018 (“the Scheme”) is a reward scheme introduced by the CBDT for payment of rewards to a person who is an informant under this scheme. A person who is an ‘Informant’ can get a reward of up to Rs. 5 crores by giving specific information about the evasion of Income tax on income and assets in India and abroad.
Related / Similar Facility : CBDT Interest Under Section 234A, 234B, 234C and 234D
This scheme shall regulate the grant and payment of rewards to informants in cases where information is received by a JDIT (Inv.) from the Informant on or after the date of issue of this scheme that leads to the detection of substantial tax evasion under the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961 and/or the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income & Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015.
FAQ On Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ On Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme 2018
Who is considered an Informant under this scheme?
A person will be considered an informant for the purposes of this scheme only if he has furnished specific information of substantial tax evasion in a written statement in Annexure – A to this Scheme and, based upon which, an Informant Code has been allotted to him by the prescribed authority.
Can any government servant be an ‘informant’ and claim a reward under the scheme?
No reward shall be granted under this scheme to any government servant who furnishes information or evidence obtained by him in the course of normal duties as a Government Servant.
A person employed by the following shall be deemed to be a Government Servant for the purpose of this scheme:
** Central Government;
** State Government;
** Union Territory Government;
** Nationalised bank;
** Local authority;
** Public sector undertaking;
** Corporation, body corporate or establishment, set up or owned by the Central Government or State Government or Union Territory Government.
What is considered information?
** ’Information’ includes material in any form, such as records, documents, emails, data held in any electronic form and photographs which are relevant for the detection of undisclosed income under the Income-tax Act, 1961 and/or Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, provided either in person or by email or letter in accordance with this scheme.
** Information given in any other manner, e.g., WhatsApp or SMS or phone or post on social networking site or publishing a letter in the newspaper or any other media, etc., shall not be treated as information.
** In a case where information is received in instalments, the Informant shall furnish information in Annexure-A separately, and his entitlement for reward shall be computed with reference to the additional tax realised or realisable which is directly attributable to the information provided in each Annexure-A.
What is “substantial tax evasion”?
‘Substantial tax evasion’ means evasion of taxes of not less than Rs. 5 crores of undisclosed income detected by Investigation Directorates of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune or Bangalore and not less than Rs. 1 crore of undisclosed income detected by other Investigation Directorates. If relevant cases are spread across more than one Investigation Directorate, substantial tax evasion means evasion of taxes of not less than Rs. 5 crores in aggregate in such cases on undisclosed income detected by the Investigation Directorates concerned.
Whether a person will be entitled to a reward if he furnishes specific information other than through Annexure-A?
A person cannot claim any reward under the scheme if he is not an informant under the scheme, even if such a person has furnished specific information of income or assets in any other manner, e.g., through letter, email, CD, WhatsApp, SMS, phone, posting in social networking site or publishing letter in a newspaper or any other media.
Whether confidentiality be maintained in the context of the Informant’s identity and information provided by the Informant?
The identity of the Informant, the information given by him (including all related documents/annexures), or the reward paid to him shall not be disclosed to any person/authority except when expressly required under any law for the time being in force or by order of any court of law. The documents/annexures relating to identity and information shall remain confidential and be dealt with accordingly. After allotment of the Informant Code, the person shall be identified with Informant Code only.
Whom should a person contact if he has information about substantial tax evasion?
A person who wants to give information about substantial tax evasion in expectation of reward under this scheme may contact the DGIT (Inv.)/PDIT (lnv.)/JDIT (Inv.) concerned. If he appears before DGIT (lnv.)/PDIT (Inv.), they will direct him to appear before JDlT (Inv.) concerned to furnish the information in Annexure-A.
What is the course of action if JDIT(Inv.) considers the information actionable?
If the jurisdictional JDlT (Inv.) considers the information prima facie actionable, the person shall have to submit the information in the prescribed format in Annexure – A by appearing in person before the JDlT (Inv.), when called. In case of any difficulty, the person desirous of giving specific information may contact the PDIT (Inv.) of the area. The decision of PDIT (Inv.) will be final in the matter of allotment of the Informant Code under this scheme.