A dedicated publicity campaign to create public awareness was launched on January 26 by the Income Tax (IT) Department, North East Region (NER). It intends to create awareness regarding income tax obligations of people in the region through hoardings, standees, and video clips.
Deputy commissioner of income tax, Dimapur, Vinikupu H. Arkha, in a press release stated that there is a general incorrect impression that all incomes of tribal persons/non-individuals, such as partnerships, LLPs, companies etc., are exempt from taxes.
It explained that incomes of all entities other than individuals, and incomes of tribal persons outside scheduled areas, are subject to Income Tax. Only the income earned in scheduled areas by tribal persons are exempt.
The campaign also aims at highlighting various new provisions prohibiting certain types of transactions, particularly cash transactions, which attract stiff penalties.
The press release also mentioned the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016 which imposes obligations on taxpayers and others to not indulge in certain types of transactions and to report such transactions. “There are serious penal and prosecution consequences for entering into such transactions,” it said.
The campaign seeks to spread awareness about such laws and prohibitions and obligations.
This is for the first time that such dedicated campaign has been launched in NER for the benefit of tax payers in the Region.