Filing Income Tax Return - Reporting of High Value Transactions in India

Many people know that the information regardingdebentures issued by a company or institution
certain specified high-value transactions need to be5. Investments of Rupees 100,000 or more in the
reported to the Income Tax Authorities by theshares issued by a company
concerned Bank, Financial Institutions, Companies or6. Purchase or Sale of any immovable property valued
Mutual Funds. However, do you know that suchat Rupees 3,000,000 or more
transactions are also required to be compulsorily7. Investments of Rupees 500,000 or more in a year
reported to the Tax Department by you along withfor investment in bonds issued by Reserve Bank of
your Return of Income? I am sure that this informationIndiaThe values of the transactions mentioned above
would come as a big surprise for you. Besides, likehave to be considered as aggregate in a year and not
many people, you also might not be aware that thereper transaction. However, in case of property
is a Schedule called as 'AIR (Annual Informationtransactions, the limit is for single transaction.
Report)' in the Income Tax Return.You must keep in mind that it is a mandatory
Well, it is mandatory for all the Assesses to furnish therequirement and hence you must comply with it. In fact,
details in respect of certain specified transactionsI know several cases where the taxpayers have
every year. The following transactions are required toreceived notices for scrutiny of Income Tax Returns
be informed to the Income Tax Department as part ofbased on the information reported by the concerned
the Annual Income Tax return.Bank, Financial Institutions, Companies or Mutual Fund.
Therefore, it is advisable to furnish the details so that
1. Cash deposits aggregating to Rs. 1,000,000 or morethere are no discrepancies between the information
in a year in any savings account by you maintained inreported by you (or not reported) and the concerned
a banking company to which the Banking Regulationinstitutions.
Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), applies (including any bank orIn the End:
banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act)Right from 2004, when AIR was brought into picture,
2. Payment made by you against bills raised in respectthere has been much confusion especially with regard
of a credit card aggregating to Rupees 200,000 orto Section 285BA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and
more in a year.Rule No.114E of Income Tax Rules. Well, laymen like
3. Investments of Rupees 200,000 or more in Mutualyou and I would be better off in complying with the
Fundrequirements of law.
4. Investments of Rupees 500,000 or more in bonds or