income tax raid meaning

The Income Tax Department of India (ITD) is the top government agency responsible for the collection of direct taxes. It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance and is headed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). The primary function of ITD is to collect income tax and enforce various direct tax laws such as Benami Transactions (Prohibition Act) Act, 1988 and the Black Money Act, 2015.

Combating tax avoidance and tax evasion is one of the key practices conducted by the ITD on a regular basis. The official search operation undertaken by the ITD is termed as an income tax raid. An income tax raid is the most effective method to curb and seize illegal wealth/black money hoarded by an individual or company.

Purpose of Income Tax Raid

The purpose of an income tax raid is to seize and curb illegal wealth/black money. Black money or unaccounted money refers to illegal income on which taxes have not been paid. It also includes income hoarded illegally or concealed from tax authorities.Hence, it is important that one does not accumulate any amount of black money. If anoyne possess black money, the chances of an income tax raid are quite high at your residence/office.

These days the media is filled with news about the tax department’s raids on filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, actress Taapsee Pannu. It also invovled Two leading film production companies including the now-dissolved production house Phantom Films, and two talent management companies, including KWAN at Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Hyderabad. A total of 28 premises are being covered. Founded in 2011, Phantom Films produced films such as ‘Lootera’, ‘Queen’, ‘Ugly’, ‘NH 10’, ‘Masaan’ and ‘Udta Punjab’.

After any raid on a public figure, an outcry against it does take place. It is a normal for raids. The tax department, in a statement, has stated that ‘evidence’ of ‘huge suppression’ of income by the leading film production house compared to the actual box office collections has been unearthed.

The company officials have not been able to explain the discrepancy of around Rs 300 crore.

Evidence related to the ‘manipulation’ and under-valuation of share transactions of the production house amongst the film directors and shareholders. This is said to be having tax implications of about Rs 350 crore .This is a matter of further investigation..

Also, ‘evidence’ of cash receipts by Pannu amounting to Rs 5 crore has been recovered. Some inter-linked transactions between the entities searched were under the scanner of the department. The raids were aimed at gathering more evidence to further probe the tax evasion allegations against them.

income tax raids india invades your privacy

the word ‘raid’ is colloquially used for the official expression ‘search and seizure’, used in the income tax provisions.

It is a very uncomfortable thing when income tax people knock on the taxpayer’s door. Strangers go through your personal belongings, moving furniture to look for hidden valuables or reading your personal diaries. They can also go through your phone messages which is life-changing experience . A raid Iis actually the ultimate invasion of privacy.

It is the last resort adopted by the tax department. Raids are few inn umbers .Only a few out of the several lakhs of taxpayers are raided by tax officials.. But raids are a necessary evil to counter the concealment of income. It is an unpopular and thankless task. Raids are based on specific information based on which the tax department has reason to believe that the taxpayer has undeclared income which he would not be willing to disclose to the tax department.

What leads to a income Tax Raid ?

The source of information is usually the tax department’s own intelligence regarding tax evasion, by way of manipulation of books of accounts, vouchers and bills; unexplained cash credits; manipulations in share transactions; unexplained lavish expenditure, and suchlike.

Information is also received from banks, market funds, property registrations, the Financial Intelligence Unit, Serious Fraud Investigation Unit, and other agencies. Whether the information is reliable or not can only be determined later. It was found to be reliable during the raids linked with demonetisation.

After receiving the information, the investigation officer carries out his own discreet enquiries to verify it from tax returns and details available in the public domain. He also carries out a reconnaissance of the premises – both residential and office.

The investigation officer writes a ‘satisfaction note’ stating that, based on the information provided and his independent investigations, he has reason to believe that the taxpayer has unaccounted income, and gets it approved by his seniors.

Thus, the raids are based on definite information, which after verification, get actioned. The investigation officer needs to be satisfied that there exists tax evasion and the same needs to be approved all the way up. There are checks and balances. The tax department cannot raid a person without any basis.

What Happens After an income Tax Raid?

The ‘satisfaction note’ is a important document – containing the information, the source, the investigations carried out by the investigation officer. The link to the reason arrived at by him as to the existence of unaccounted income. It is the foundation on which rests the initiation of the raid and the consequent assessment order. The satisfaction recorded can be looked into by High Court in a writ and, in case of any discrepancy, the raid can be quashed. Hence, the procedures enshrined in law and practice are taken very seriously.

We need to see whether tax evasion take place or not ? if yes ,how much is the amount ?

The process of quantification begins after the raid is over and all the books, documents, statements, valuables, cash, and other evidence have been examined. The first stage at which some clarity will arise will be when the investigation officer writes the ‘Appraisal Report’ – a preliminary report which lists out important documents seized, recommends line of enquiry, and computes an estimate of concealment. Thereafter, the assessment unit takes over, carries out an in-depth investigation and passes an assessment order.

Then there is the appeal process, beginning with the Commissioner of Appeals, through the income Tax Appellate Tribunal, to the High Court and beyond. We will have to see how much of the tax department’s claim is finally upheld.

Type of Help you need after Tax Raid in india

The parties may admit or ‘surrender’ the unaccounted income. Here is where the tax department must tread very carefully. Usually, such ‘surrender’ doesn’t represent any unaccounted income but is given out of fear to escape harassment and ‘buy peace’. Without documented proof, and knowledge of modus operandi, this is an exercise in futility. The parties can later claim that they were coerced into admitting evasion.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Pannu’s boyfriend Mathias Boe has raised the issue before Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and urged him to look into the matter.
The minister has replied by saying that the “law of the land is supreme”, and they must abide by that.

Seeking help is normal during, and after, a raid. A Tax raid is similar to a shot arrow and nothing can take it back,. The parties do try to reach out for help from politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists, acquaintances in the tax department.They try to reach to anyone they feel is influential enough to help. Some of the people approached do pick up the phone and try to influence not the raid, but the post -raid investigations but they seldom succeed.

Future of tax raids in india

At the end of the day, if Kashyap and Pannu have done nothing wrong, and all their dealings have been transparent, they have nothing to fear. Of course,the process they will have to go through is punishment in itself for most taxpayers. They will have to chin up and bear it.

If they have indulged in evasion, now is the best time to admit it, pay the taxes and penalties and move ahed their lives. Both Kashyap and Pannu are great film personalities . We all want them to get back to the studios and do what they do best.