IT authority to impose income tax in Meghalaya

For the first time in the State’s history, more than 450 tax deducting authorities have been notified to deduct income tax from offsprings born out of tribal and non-tribal wedlock by July 31.

The notification was issued by the Income Tax department after a two bench Supreme Court judgment held that offsprings born out of such wedlock cannot enjoy Scheduled Caste status. Only tribal under section 10 (26) of the Income Tax Act are exempted from paying income tax.

Commissioner of Income Tax, H Raikhan told reporters today that the notices were issued to uphold the “law of the land after the Supreme Court judgment”.

The returns should be filed by July 31 for the current fiscal to avoid interests or penalties, he stated adding, a “tax payers’ education programme” was lined up by the department on July 20 to educate first timers the nuances to file tax returns.

Earlier, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief HS Shylla said that the Council would file a review petition in the Supreme Court to exempt Meghalaya from the judgment as it followed a matrilineal system.

He added that the KHADC would appeal to the Income Tax department not to issue orders to such offsprings to pay income tax till the Supreme Court hears its review petition.

“Nobody approached the department, there is no point. We are just following the Supreme Court order. If a review petition exempts Meghalaya from the purview of the judgment for following a matrilineal system then the income Tax department would act accordingly”, the Commissioner added.

Raikhan said notices were also served to some individuals owning business houses and are offspring of such wedlock. “It is a bit difficult to identify all such businessmen but the department is in the process and would serve notices soon”, he added

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