tax compliances extended

 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1755925

The Central Government, in continuation of its commitment to address the hardship being faced by various stakeholders on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, has, on consideration of representations received from various stakeholders, decided to extend timelines for compliances under the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) in the following cases, as under:

• Time limit for intimation of Aadhaar number to the Income tax Department for linking of PAN with Aadhaar has been extended from 30th September, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.
• The due date for completion of penalty proceedings under the Act has also been extended from 30th September, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.

Further, the time limit for issuance of notice and passing of order by the Adjudicating Authority under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 has also been extended to 31st March, 2022.

Notification no. 113 of 2021 dated 17th September, 2021 has been issued in this regard and can be accessed at www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

Aadhar

PIB press release dated 28th February, 2019

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to make amendments to the Aadhaar Act 2016, Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2005 & Indian Telegraph Act 1885. The amendments proposed are the same as those contained in the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on 4^th January 2019.

Impact:-         

The amendments would enable UIDAI to have a more robust mechanism to serve the public interest and restrain the misuse of Aadhaar.  Subsequent to this amendment, no individual shall be compelled to provide proof of possession of Aadhaar number of undergo authentication for the purpose of establishing his identity unless it is so provided by a law made by Parliament.

Salient Features

The salient features of the amendments are as follows—

• Provides for voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or offline verification with the consent of Aadhaar number holder;
• Provides for use of twelve-digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity to conceal the actual Aadhaar number of an individual;
• Gives an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years;
• Permits the entities to perform authentication only when they are compliant with the standards of privacy and security specified by the Authority; and the authentication is permitted under any law made by Parliament or is prescribed to be in the interest of State by the Central Government;
• Allows the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002.
• Proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities;
• Prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being  unable  to,   undergo authentication;
• Provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund;
• Provides for civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem.

Background:

The Supreme Court in its judgement dated 26.9.2018 in W.P (civil) No.494 of 2012 and other tagged petitions held Aadhaar to be constitutionally valid. However, it read down/struck down few sections of the Aadhaar Act and Regulations and gave several other directions in the interest of protecting the fundamental rights to privacy.

Consequently it was proposed to amend the Aadhaar Act, Indian Telegraph Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in line with the Supreme Court directives and the report of Justice B.N.Srikrishna (Retd.) committee on data protection, in order to ensure that personal data of Aadhaar holder remains protected against any misuse and Aadhaar scheme remains in conformity with the Constitution. Towards this, the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on 4^th January, 2019. However, before the same could be considered and passed in the Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die.

Aadhar based e-KYC process

SEBI vide circular dated October 8, 2013, enabled Aadhaar based e-KYC service offered by UIDAI for KYC verification. Intermediaries have sought clarifications from SEBI on certain operational aspects of the same. It is clarified that for accessing the details enabling client identification and authentication from UIDAI based on client authorisation, on voluntary basis, intermediaries who utilize the services of KYC Service Agencies (KSAs) would be registered as KYC User Agencies (KUA) with UIDAI.

1. For entering into account based relationship, the client may provide the following information to the intermediary: i. Name ii. Aadhaar number iii. Permanent Account Number (PAN)

2. The above information can be provided by the client electronically including through any web enabled device.

3. The intermediary shall perform verification of the client with UIDAI through biometric authentication (fingerprint or iris scanning). Mutual Funds can also perform verification of the client with UIDAI through One Time password (OTP) received on client’s mobile number or on e-mail address registered with UIDAI provided, the amount invested by the client does not exceed Rs. 50,000 per financial year per Mutual Fund and payment for the same is made through electronic transfer from the client’s bank account registered with that Mutual Fund.

4. PAN of such client is to be verified from the income tax website.

5. After due validation of Aadhaar number provided by the client, the intermediary (acting as KUA) shall receive the KYC information about the client from UIDAI through KSA.

6. The information downloaded from UIDAI shall be considered as sufficient information for the purpose of KYC verification. The intermediary shall upload this KYC information on the KRA system in terms of KRA Regulations.

7. In case material difference is observed either in the name (as observed in the PAN vis-a-vis Aadhaar) or photograph in Aadhaar is not clear, the intermediary shall carryout additional due diligence and maintain a record of the additional documents sought pursuant to such due diligence.

8. The records of KYC information so received shall be maintained by the intermediary as per the SEBI Act, Regulations and various circulars issued thereunder.