The Narendra Modi government has taken yet another bold move post demonetisation to tighten the noose on tax evaders. This time the government has banned  cash  transactions over and above Rs 2,00,000. Henceforth,  any  person  receiving cash  of   more than Rs 1,99,999 will have to  pay  100% penalty of cash received  i.e. if the amount received exceeds Rs  1,99,999, a recipient will have to pay the entire amount received as penalty under section 271DA  of the Income Tax  Act.

Now any person (Individual, firm, company, etc)  cannot accept cash of more than Rs  1,99,999 from a single person in a day.

Acceptance of such cash will attract 100% penalty.

A person receiving cash will be  liable to pay the penalty.

? Cash  gifts aggregating to 2,00,000 or more than that will attract 100% penalty. This includes cash gifts from relatives as well as cash gifts on events or occasions like  marriages, child birth, etc.

? There is  no  bar on  cash deposits in  banks,  co-operative banks and post office  saving accounts.

? Withdrawal of cash from banks is allowed without any limits.

To give you more clarity on the subject, here are some frequently asked questions and their respective answers:  

Question 1: From which date these restrictions are applicable?

? Cash restrictions are applicable from financial year 2017-18, i.e., for all cash transactions after 01/04/2017.

Question 2: Whether threshold limit includes Rs 2,00,000 or not ?

? Recipient can receive an amount upto Rs  1,99,999 in  a cash in a single day.

Question 3: Whether these restrictions are applicable to even those who don’t have Income Tax  PAN number? 

? Yes, these restrictions are applicable to all. Contravention, if any found in  future by Income Tax  department, a recipient will  have to  pay penalty  @ 100%, even if the person doesn’t have a PAN number.

Question 4: Whether a person can receive an amount aggregating more than Rs 2,00,000 from different payers in a single day  ?

 ? The above provision does not bar a person from receiving an aggregate amount of Rs 2,00,000 or more from different persons, provided single person should not pay more than Rs 1,99,999  in cash.

Example:

Mr X has received a total amount of Rs 9,00,000 on a single day from five different persons, wherein  each person has contributed/paid an amount of Rs 1,50,000. In such situation Mr X won’t be hit by the provisions of 269ST.

Question  5: Whether a  threshold  limit  of  Rs   2,00,000  is  transaction specific or day  specific?

? Threshold limit of Rs 2,00,000 is  both transaction specific as well as  day specific. In both cases, section 269ST will  be attracted. A person cannot receive from any other person more than Rs  1,99,999 in a single day in respect of one or more transactions. As far as specific transaction is concerned a person cannot receive cumulative amount of more than Rs   1,99,999 in cash in respect of a specific transaction.

Example:  

If Mr  X receives a sum of Rs 4.5  lakhs in respect of a single transaction (e.g  Sale of goods in cash in a single bill), in three installments of Rs 1.5   lakhs each, on different dates, then such receipts would fall under this category of  prohibited transactions even though none of these receipts were of Rs 2 lakhs or more. This is a very important condition which prohibits the splitting of payments over several days.

Question 6: What are the modes of payments prescribed by the law?

(a) an account payee bank cheque or

(b) an account payee bank draft or

(c) use of electronic clearing system through a bank account (e.g.,  NEFT, RTGS, online transfer from one  bank account to another etc.).

Thus  the receipt of amount of Rs 2  lakhs or above through any other mode e.g., cash, bearer cheque, crossed cheque, self cheque, transfer entry or adjustment entry in  books of account etc., is not allowed.

Question 7: What is quantum of penalty that will be levied in case of default?

? Newly inserted  penal  provision, section  271DA stipulates a penalty of 100%, i.e.,  a sum equal to  the amount of payment received in violation of section 269ST.

Example:

If a person receives an amount of Rs 2,50,000 from a single person on a same day, penalty will be levied @ Rs 2,50,000 and not on Rs 50,000.

Question 8: Who will be  liable to pay penalty payer or receiver ?

? Receiver will be liable to pay penalty in case of default.

Question 9: Whether a farmer can receive an amount of  Rs  2,00,00  or more in cash?

? The character of receipt is irrelevant, i.e., exempt income/taxable income etc. There is no exemption even for sale of agricultural produce. Thus even if farmer sells produce for Rs 2,00,00 or above, he cannot receive money in cash.

Question  10: Whether  a  person can  receive cash gift exceeding  Rs 1,99,999 from his close relatives in cash?

? Gift in cash from relative is exempted from income tax but if the amount of gift received is Rs 2,00,000 or more from relative in cash w.e.f 01.04.2017, the assessee will have to shell out 100% penalty. Even if the cash gift received from different persons in marriage or any similar occasion exceeds Rs  1,99,999, it will  attract 269ST and accordingly receiver will be  liable to pay the entire amount received as penalty.