'Countdown' has begun, I-T dept warns blackmoney holders of March 31 deadline

New Delhi, Mar 24: The Income Tax department today warned black money holders that it has "information" about their illegal deposits and they should avail the soon-to-end PMGKY window to come clean. In advertisements issued in leading national dailies, the department said that the "countdown" in this regard has begun and stash holders should declare their black money "or regret later".

The window under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY) closes on March 31. The advertisement said that the "Income Tax department has information about your deposits." The department also said that total "confidentiality is ensured" to those who declare their black assets and funds under this scheme. It had recently also cautioned stash holders to avail the scheme or face stringent action under Benami laws, adding that the defaulters' names will also be shared with the central probe agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI.

The tax and penalty against those who hide their black money and fail to avail the PMGKY could go as high as 137 per cent of the cash deposits made, a senior officer had said, adding the department will not shy away from slapping the newly enacted Benami Transactions Act against defaulters. The official explained that a person or entity that opts for PMGKY will have to pay 49.9 per cent tax on the income, whereas a person who does not opt for the scheme but offers his black income in his Income Tax Returns will face a tax and penalty rate of 77.25 per cent.

The one who does not offer his stash funds under the scheme but is caught with undisclosed income in scrutiny assessment will face 83.25 per cent tax rate. For those who do not declare their stash under the PMGKY and are raided will face 107.25 per cent tax and penalty if the undisclosed income is surrendered during the action. Those who do not surrender such hidden income even during searches will stand to face the highest level of penalty and tax at 137.25 per cent.

The Benami Act invites rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years and the violators also stand to be charged under the I-T Act, besides being liable to pay fine up to 25 per cent of fair market value of benami property and other penalties. The Centre had come out with the PMGKY scheme after its decision to demonetise high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 last year. A quarter of the total sum will also have to be parked in a non—interest bearing deposit for four years under the said scheme. The scheme had commenced on December 17 last.