Aaykar Setu: Now solve IT RETURN issues, pay taxes, apply for PAN, via CBDT app

Paying IT RETURN, applying for PAN and seeking redressal of grievances have become easier as the tax department today launched an app allowing taxpayers perform basic functions through their smartphone.

The mobile app will also help people link their 12- digit biometric identifier Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number (PAN) card as well as track the TDS deduction details.

The mobile app 'Aaykar Setu', launched by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, literally means bridge for taxpayers and will be available in Android phones.

"This is a very important step forward by the CBDT and the principle reason being technology as a very powerful tool becomes an enabler. (With the app) most of the work the assessee can discharge without any external help sitting at home," the minister said.

This is the first mobile app by the CBDT and can be downloaded by giving missed calls to 7306525252.

The app will have a live chat facility named 'Chatbot' from 10 am to 6 pm which will provide solution to queries of taxpayers relating to PAN, TAN, TDS, return filing, refund status and tax payments.

Besides, people can also have a live chat with tax experts and provides address of nearby tax return preparer.

It provides ease of use of all the services related to tax payment including tax payment, tax calculation. Also if a taxpayer has a problem, this app will help in lodging his grievance in the e-Nivaran module of the CBDT.

IT RETURN: Now, pay GST if you earn over Rs 20 lakh per year as rent

IT RETURN - Rental income from residential property has been exempt from GST but any earning over Rs 20 lakh annually from renting or leasing for commercial purposes would attract the levy.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said that if the house property is rent out for shop or office purpose, no Goods and Service Tax (GST) will be levied up to Rs 20 lakh.

"Rental income received from residential house is exempt. But if you have given your unit to commercial enterprise, then it is taxable if you are getting more than Rs 20 lakh as rent," Adhia said at the GST Master Class.

The taxpayer earning more than the exempted threshold will have to register with the GST Network and pay taxes.

GSTN Chief Executive Prakash Kumar said that as many as 69.32 lakh registered excise, service tax and VAT payers have migrated to the GSTN portal. There are over 80 lakh such assessees in the earlier indirect taxation regime.

Out of the 69.32 lakh, as many as 38.51 lakh have completed the entire registration process and registration certicate is being issued to them.

The remaining 30.8 lakh taxpayers are being sent SMS and emails by GSTN so that they complete the registration process by giving the details of the business like main place of business, additional place of business, promoters details.

Besides, over 4.5 lakh new assessees have registered on the GSTN portal since June 25.

Adhia further said that the facility to amend the details of businesses provided to the GSTN portal at the time of registration will open on July 17. Also, registration for GST practioners will open on the same day.

Besides, cancellation of registration can be done online.

GST readiness: EY launches helpdesk to ease transition for small firms

Tax consultancy firm EY has launched a GST helpdesk for small businesses wherein they can post their queries on the new indirect tax regime online.

EY GST Helpdesk is driven by a pool of indirect tax professionals powered by over 800 GST practitioners across 14 cities.

The facility would be available for free to small businesses, traders and entrepreneurs to achieve a seamless transition to GST and queries can be posted on EY India Tax Insights App, DigiGST website and EY_India on Twitter.

"This facility will help in enabling a smooth transition for smaller businesses and traders across the country," EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani said.

Businesses are in the midst of ensuring GST compliance and they have to align their software systems as per the GST requirement as well as adapt themselves to the new return filing and invoice generating format.

"We believe this helpdesk will be of great help to small entrepreneurs and help them realise the benefits of GST," EY India National Tax Leader Sudhir Kapadia said.

Goods and Services Tax (GST), rolled out from July 1, unifies 17 different taxes like excise, service tax and VAT and will transform India into a single market for seamless transfer of goods and services.

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