Restriction on cash transactions - Budget 2017 - 18

Restriction on cash transactions - Budget 2017 - 18

In India, the quantum of domestic black money is huge which adversely affects the revenue of the Government creating a resource crunch for its various welfare programmes. 

Black money is generally transacted in cash and large amount of unaccounted wealth is stored and used in form of cash.

In order to achieve the mission of the Government to move towards a less cash economy to reduce generation and circulation of black money , it is proposed to insert section 269ST in the Act to provide that no person shall receive an amount of three (3) lakh rupees or more,

(a) in aggregate from a person in a day; 

(b) in respect of a single transaction; or 

(c) in respect of transactions relating to one event or occasion from a person, otherwise than by an account payee cheque or  / account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account.

It is further proposed to provide that the said restriction shall not apply to Government, any banking company , post office savings bank or co-operative bank. Further, it is proposed that such other persons or class of persons or receipts may be notified by the Central Government, for reasons to be recorded in writing, on whom the proposed restriction on cash transactions shall not apply . Transactions of the nature referred to in section 269SS are proposed to be excluded from the scope of the said section.

It is also proposed to insert new section 271DA in the Act to provide for levy of penalty on a person who receives a sum in contravention of the provisions of the proposed section 269ST. The penalty is proposed to be a sum equal to the amount of such receipt. 

The said penalty shall however not be levied if the person proves that there were good and sufficient reasons for such contravention. It is also proposed that any such penalty shall be levied by the Joint Commissioner.

It is also proposed to consequentially amend the provisions of section 206C to omit the provision relating to tax collection at source at the rate of one per cent. of sale consideration on cash sale of jewellery exceeding five lakh rupees. 

These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clauses 71, 83 & 84]

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