Section 40A(3): Disallowance of Expenses made in Cash & Exceptions

What is Section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act?

Section 40A(3) deals with the disallowance of expenses made in cash and exceptions. This section was introduced to disincentivize cash transactions and reduce tax evasion and increase tax accountability.

If a business makes any payment(s) or expenditure(s) to -

• A single person
• In a single day
• Other than by account payee cheque or an account payee bank draft(i.e., Makes payment via cash)
• Exceeding Rs 10,000/-

then such expenditure will not be allowed as a deduction under section 40A(3) of the income tax act.

This means it will not be considered a business expense and will be added back to the income. Further, it will result in a higher payment of taxes. However, Rule 6DD prescribes certain cases and circumstances where the above-mentioned expenditures will be allowed as a deduction even if payment is made in Cash.

In the case of a transporter (i.e., if the payments are made for hiring or leasing carriages for goods such as lorries, trucks, etc.), the limit has been fixed to Rs. 35,000 instead of Rs. 10,000/-.

This exemption is limited to only the expenses incurred by organizations, companies, and firms. For any other expenses, any payment made in cash exceeding Rs.10,000 cannot be deducted.

If an organization accrues assets such as land and machinery, then it does not come under the category of expenses and is covered under the capital gains act.

What are the various modes of payment allowed u/s 40A(3)?

Even if the amount of expenditure exceeds Rs 10,000 ( or Rs 35,000), no disallowance will be done if such payment has been made via

• An account payee cheque or
• Demand draft or
• Use of ECS or digital payment modesr
• Other prescribed electronic modes.
• Payments through Cards (Debit, credit), IMPS, UPI, RTGS, NEFT etc.

In a nutshell, payment made in cash or through a bearer cheque can be disallowed only.

Examples of the Implementation of Section 40A(3)

Example:

M/S ABC purchases stationery worth Rs.15,000, Rs.16000, and Rs.19000 on 3 different days in cash. The total expense incurred is Rs.40,000. This sum is not allowed as a deduction while calculating the total income of the company as the expense in cash is more than Rs.10,000 a day limit.

If the same organization purchases stationery worth Rs.8,000, Rs.9,000, and Rs.10,000 on 3 separate days each in cash, then the total expense incurred will be allowed as a deduction as it does not exceed the Rs.10,000 per day limit.

What are the exceptions stated under Rule 6DD?

As per Rule 6DD of the income tax act, if a payment exceeding Rs 10,000 is made in cash or through a bearer cheque, it will be ALLOWED in the following exceptional cases:

• Payment is made to Banking and other credit institutions: Where payment is made to the Reserve Bank of India, LIC, Banks, Government, primary agriculture credit society or co-operative bank, or land mortgage bank.
• Payment made to Government(both central & state government): Where the payment is made for payment of taxes -direct tax, GST, customs, or any other payment to the Govt. It also covers payments made other than taxes. For e.g., if the scrap is purchased from the Indian railways in cash.
• Payment through banking system: Where the payment is made by
  1. Any letter of credit
  2. By Telegraphic Transfer/mail
  3. Bill of exchange payable to bank
  4. Use of ECS
  5. Credit/Debit card
  6. Book adjustment in the same bank or between one bank to another
  7. Credit card and Debit card
• Payment made by Book Entries: Payment made by the book adjustment in the account of the payee against the money due to the assessee for the supply of goods or services.
  Payment to cultivators, growers, or producers of agriculture products, forest products, animal husbandry products (including livestock, meat, hides, and skin), dairy products, poultry farming, fish or fisheries product, products of horticulture, apiculture, etc.
  Where the payment is made for the purchase of products manufactured without the aid of power in a cottage industry to the producer of such product.
  Where the payment to a person who ordinarily resides in a village or town which on the date of such payment is not served by any bank.
• Payment of terminal benefits: Where any payment is made to an employee or heir of such employee in connection with the retirement, retrenchment, resignation, or death of such employee, on account of gratuity, provided such payment is up to Rs. 50,000/-.
  Payment made to an employee of his salary (after deducting TDS from salary): when such an employee is temporarily posted for a continuous period of 15 days or more in a place other than his normal place of duty or on a ship, or he does not maintain any account in any bank at such place or ship.
  Payment required to be made on a day when banks were closed either on account of a holiday or strike.
  Payment made by any person to his agent who is required to make payments in cash for goods or services on behalf of such person.
  Payment made by an authorized dealer or a money changer against the purchase of foreign currency or traveler’s cheque in the normal course of his business.
  

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