Income Tax Return Forms ITR 1, 2 and 4S Simplified

Forms ITR 1, 2 and 4S for Assessment Year 2015-16 were notified on 15^th April 2015 (15.04.2015). In view of various representations, it was announced that these ITR forms will be reviewed. Having considered the responses received from various stakeholders, these forms are proposed to be simplified in the following manner for the convenience of the taxpayers:-

1)                                 Individuals having exempt income without any ceiling (other than agricultural income exceeding Rs. 5,000) can now file Form ITR 1 (Sahaj). Similar simplification is also proposed for individuals/HUF in respect of Form ITR 4S (Sugam).

2)                                 At present individuals/HUFs having income from more than one house property and capital gains are required to file Form ITR-2. It is, however, noticed that majority of individuals/HUFs who file Form ITR-2 do not have capital gains. With a view to provide for a simplified form for these individuals/HUFs, a new Form ITR 2A is proposed which can be filed by an individual or HUF who does not have capital gains, income from business/profession or foreign asset/foreign income.

3)                                 In lieu of foreign travel details, it is now proposed that only Passport Number, if available, would be required to be given in Forms ITR-2 and ITR-2A. Details of foreign trips or expenditure thereon are not required to be furnished.

4)                                 As regards bank account details in all these forms, only the IFS code, account number of all the current/savings account which are held at any time during the previous year will be required to be filled-up. The balance in accounts will not be required to be furnished. Details of dormant accounts which are not operational during the last three years are not required to be furnished.

5)                                 An individual who is not an Indian citizen and is in India on a business, employment or student visa (expatriate), would not mandatorily be required to report the foreign assets acquired by him during the previous years in which he was non-resident if no income is derived from such assets during the relevant previous year.

6)                                 As a measure of simplification, it has been endeavoured to ensure that in Form ITR 2 and the new Form ITR 2A, the main form will not contain more than 3 pages, and other information will be captured in the Schedules which will be required to be filled only if applicable.

As the software for these forms is under preparation, they are likely to be available for e-filing by 3^rd week of June 2015. Accordingly, the time limit for filing these returns is also proposed to be extended up to 31^st August, 2015 (31.08.2015). A separate notification will be issued in this regard.

Revision of classification of cities for the purpose of HRA to Central Government employees

The Union Cabinet,  given its approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure for reclassification/upgradation of certain cities/towns on the basis of Census-2011, for the purpose of grant of House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Transport Allowance to Central Government employees.

Cities to be upgraded/re-classified as "Y" in Kerala

Thrissur (UA)

Malappuram (UA)

Kannur(UA)

Kollam (UA)

City to be upgraded on the basis of census-2011 for grant of Transport Allowance in Kerala

Cities to be added for higher rates of Transport Allowance (i.e. which have population of more than 20 lakh to qualify for earlier classification as “A-1”/ “A” as stipulated in O.M. No. 21(2)/2008-E.II(B) dated 29.8.2008):

Kochi (UA)

തദ്ദേശഭരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ വാര്‍ഡ് വിഭജനം : കരട് വിജ്ഞാപനം പുറപ്പെടുവിച്ചു

2015 ലെ തദ്ദേശ സ്വയംഭരണ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളിലെ  പൊതുതെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിനു മുന്നോടിയായി പുതുതായി രൂപീകരിക്കുന്ന തദ്ദേശ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ വാര്‍ഡ് വിഭജന കരട് വിജ്ഞാപനം ഇന്ന് (30/5/2015) പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിക്കുമെന്ന് സംസ്ഥാന ഡിലിമിറ്റേഷന്‍ കമ്മീഷന്‍ ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ കെ.ശശിധരന്‍ നായര്‍ അറിയിച്ചു. വാര്‍ഡ് വിഭജനത്തിന്റെ കരട് വിജ്ഞാപനത്തിന്‍മേലുളള ആക്ഷേപങ്ങളും അഭിപ്രായങ്ങളും പൊതുജനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ജൂണ്‍ 15 ന് അഞ്ച് മണിക്കകം കമ്മീഷന്‍ സെക്രട്ടറിക്കോ ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ജില്ലയിലെ ജില്ലാ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനോ നേരിട്ടോ രജിസ്റ്റേര്‍ഡ് തപാല്‍ മുഖേനയോ സമര്‍പ്പിക്കാവുന്നതാണ്.  

28 More Village Extension Officers Promoted

CRD issued orders promoting 28 more Village Extension Officers to the cadre of Extension Officers. Seniority list up to 1842 were included in the list.

Click here to view Order

Integrated VEO Seniority List up to 2014 Finalized

Integrated Seniority List of Grade II Village Extension Officers appointed during 1/04/2011 to 31/12/2014 were finalized by CRD after considering the objections raised by the incumbents.

Click here to view list

SC/ST Housing Subsidy Increased to 3 Lakh

LSGD allowed all Local Self Govt Institutions to enhance the subsidy given for House Construction to SC/ST families from Rs2 Lakh to 3 Lakh. Beneficiaries received assistance after 11/07/2014 will be eligible for full enhanced amount.

Click here to view GO

RDD General Transfer 2015 Guidelines Isued

CRD issued guidelines regarding General transfer of Employees of Rural Development Department. Applications should be submitted to concerned Assistant Development Commissioners before 25/05/2015.

Click here to view circular

Socio-Economic and Caste Census to conclude by 15th August so that the data can be used for planning in the programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development and other Ministries

 Shri Birender Singh, Union Rural Development Minister emphasised that the SECC must be expeditiously concluded by taking all necessary steps, before 15th August 2015 so that the data can be used for planning in the programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development and other Ministries too, while providing the benefits of government development programmes to Gram Panchayats and rural and urban poor households. SECC would enable the Government to introduce much needed ‘focussed and targeted intervention’ in poverty reduction and rural development programmes as it is based on information furnished by the households. A development plan at Gram Panchayat level based on SECC would enable convergence of resources, funds and government’s intervention for preparing and implementing Gram Panchayat Plan for speedy and targeted poverty reduction. The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) will use the SECC data to undertake planning for poverty free Panchayats involving PRIs and Self Help Groups from poor households. 
         It has been decided by the Minister of Rural Development to mandatorily use SECC data in all MoRD Programmes. The Minister of Rural Development directed the DoRD to incorporate suitable modifications in guidelines of schemes keeping in view the SECC data and that a system of regular data up-dation should be developed so that household wise progress could be mapped and households needing developmental and social support are tracked over the years. SECC data uses National Population Register’s (NPR) Temporary Identification Number (TIN) for identification of households. The same is to be used in all Rural Development programmes to enable better convergence and tracking over time.

House Hold Latrine-Advance can be given

Sanitation Mission issued clarification that while implementing Individual House Hold Latrine Projects, subsidy can be given in two installments. An amount of Rs 6700 can be given as advance to the beneficiaries.

Click here to view circular