SECTION 269ST OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 – DEPOSITS – MODE OF UNDERTAKING TRANSACTIONS – CBDT’S CLARIFICATIONS IN RESPECT OF SAID SECTION

CIRCULAR NO.22 OF 2017 (F.NO.370142/10/2017-TPL), DATED 3-7-2017

With a view to promote digital economy and create a disincentive against cash economy, a new section 269ST has been inserted in the Income-tax Act, 1961(the Act) vide Finance Act, 2017. The said section inter-alia prohibits receipt of an amount of two lakh rupees or more by a person, in the circumstances specified therein, through modes other than by way of an account payee cheque or an account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account. Penal provisions have also been introduced by way of a new section 271DA, which provides that if a person receives any amount in contravention to the provisions of section 269ST, it shall be liable to pay penalty of a sum equal to the amount of such receipt.

2. Subsequently, representations have been received from non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and housing finance companies (HFCs) as to whether the provisions of section 269ST of the Act shall apply to one instalment of loan repayment or the whole amount of such repayment.

3. In this context, it is clarified that in respect of receipt in the nature of repayment of loan by NBFCs or HFCs, the receipt of one instalment of loan repayment in respect of a loan shall constitute a ‘single transaction’ as specified in clause (b) of section 269ST of the Act and all the instalments paid for a loan shall not be aggregated for the purposes of determining applicability of the provisions section 269ST.