No action on political parties for old currency notes deposits in their bank accounts-Govt dismiss media news

No action on political parties for old currency notes deposits in their bank accounts-Govt dismiss media news of non-investigation of political parties.

Govt defends on news of non scrutiny of old currency notes deposit in the accounts of political parties. 

It is interesting to see that almost all the defence quoted by the MoF in this press release are also applicable to private charitable institutions and/or business concerns which are also liable to maintain accounts, file return of income apart from governing agency (ROC, Registrar of firms etc.) and are subject to audit.

However the Finance Minister in a Statement has categorically stated that,

“If there is any discrepancy in the books or records of political parties, they are as liable to be questioned by the Income Tax authorities as is anyone else. They enjoy no immunity whatsoever.”

The Press release of the MoF is as under

Ministry of Finance

17-December, 2016

Clarification of Status of Political Parties under Income Tax Act, 1961

There have been some newspaper reports which seem to wrongly suggest that there cannot be any scrutiny of Income-tax returns of political parties registered with the Election Commission in the context of deposits of old currency notes.  This inference seems to have been drawn because of the fact that the income of the political parties is exempt from Income – Tax under Section 13A. 

In this context, the following clarifications need to be kept in mind :

(i)  The exemption from Income-Tax is given to only registered  political parties subject to certain conditions, which are mentioned in Section 13A, which includes keeping and maintaining books of accounts and other documents as would enable the Assessing Officer to deduce its income therefrom;

(ii)  In respect of each voluntary contribution in excess of Rs. 20000, the political party will have to maintain a record of such contributions along with the name and address of such person who has made such contribution;

(iii)  The accounts of each such political party is to be audited  by a Chartered Accountant; and

(iv)  The political party has to submit a report to the Election Commission about the donations received within a timeframe prescribed.

There are enough provisions in the Income Tax Act to scrutinise the accounts of the political parties and these political parties are also subject to other provisions of Income-Tax, including filing of return.

*****