ITR Filing FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25) live

File your ITR Hassle-Free and Maximise your Refunds

File Today
  • TrustedTrusted by 1 Million+ Users
  • User Rating4.8 Star User Rating
  • SecureAuthorized by Tax Department
ITR Filing
linkedin
whatsapp

Section 206AB of Income Tax Act Explained

Updated on: 16 Jan, 2024 05:49 PM

The government introduced section 206AB in the finance bill 2021. Section 206AB provided a provision for the deduction of TDS and TCS at a higher rate when payment was made to specified person who have not furnished their Income Tax Return. Want to know more about Section 206AB of the Income Tax Act? Read this article to understand its applicability, examples, and implications for taxpayers.

What is Section 206AB of the Income Tax Act?

Section 206AB of the Income Tax Act is a new provision introduced by the Finance Act 2021 and came into effect on 1st July 2021. It aims to ensure compliance with filing income tax returns by specified persons who have not filed their returns for the previous two assessment years and have a high amount of tax deducted or collected at source. According to this section, any person who pays or credits any sum to such a specified person must deduct tax at source at a higher rate than the normal rate prescribed under the relevant section of the Act. The higher rate is either twice the normal rate or 5%, whichever is higher. This section applies to all payments or credits that are subject to TDS, except for those covered under sections 192, 192A, 194B, 194BB, 194LBC, and 194N of the Act


How is TDS deducted under section 206AB?

Any payment made to a specified person mentioned in Section 206AB, TDS shall be deducted at a higher rate:

  • 5%
  • Two times the rate the Finance Act or the Income Tax Act gives.
  • The tax shall be deducted at 20% or the rate applicable as per the section, whichever is higher if the certain person does not provide a PAN.

How is TCS collected under section 206AB?

Any payment made to a specified person mentioned in Section 206AB, TCS shall be collected at a higher rate:

  • 5%
  • Two times the rate the Finance Act or the Income Tax Act gives.
  • The tax shall be deducted at 20% or the rate applicable as per the section, whichever is higher if the certain person does not provide a PAN.

Illustration:

Suppose A is a specified person who has not filed his income tax returns for the past two years and has a turnover of more than 50 lakhs in the previous year. He receives a payment of 1 lakh from B, who is liable to deduct TDS under any provision of the Income Tax Act.

According to Section 206AB, B has to deduct TDS at a higher rate from A's payment. The higher rate is the highest of the following:

  • 5%
  • Two times the rate specified in the relevant provision of the Income Tax Act or the Finance Act
  • 20% or the rate applicable as per the section, whichever is higher, if A does not provide a PAN

Let us assume that the normal rate of TDS for A's payment is 1% as per the Income Tax Act, and there is no change in the rate by the Finance Act. In this case, the higher rate will be:

  • 5%
  • Two times of rate 1% determined in the Act, i.e., 2%
  • 20% (since A does not have a PAN)

Who is the specified person U/S Section 206AB?

A specified person under section 206AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961:

  • Any person who has not filed the ITR for the preceding year.
  • Any person who has not filed the ITR on or before the due date
  • The total amount of TDS and TCS in the last financial year is Rs. 50,000 or more

What are the Exclusions under Section 206AB?

Provision for TDS deduction under section 206AB does not apply to:

Section Nature of Payment
192 TDS on Salary
192A TDS on Premature withdrawal of EPF
194B TDS on lottery Prize
194BB TDS on Horse race winning
194LBC TDS on Income of Investment Securitization
194N TDS on Cash withdrawal
Non-residents do not have a permanent establishment in India.
More Transactions Added in union budget 2022
194-IA Consideration payment for the sale of immovable property
194-IB Rent paid to landlord above Rs. 50,000
194M Payment for professional or contractual services above Rs. 50 lakh

*** As per Section 194S Transfer of virtual assets to the following is excluded from the TDS deduction:

  • HUF or Individual not having Income from Business and Profession.
  • HUF/Individual (Gross turnover is less than Rs. 1 crore) or (Gross receipts from any profession is less than Rs. 50 Lakh) during the previous financial year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q- Who is required to deduct TDS under Section 206AB?

The specified person has not filed their income tax return for the previous year and whose aggregate TDS and TCS is Rs. 50,000 or more in the said previous year.


Q- Is TDS compulsory?

TDS deduction is compulsory under section 192 of the Income Tax Act. The employer who pays salary to his employee is required to deduct TDS from the salary if it exceeds the threshold limit .


CA Abhishek Soni
CA Abhishek Soni

Abhishek Soni is a Chartered Accountant by profession & entrepreneur by passion. He is the co-founder & CEO of Tax2Win.in. Tax2win is amongst the top 25 emerging startups of Asia and authorized ERI by the Income Tax Department. In the past, he worked in EY and comes with wide industry experience from telecom, retail to manufacturing to entertainment where he has handled various national and international assignments.