Statement of Financial Transactions or Reportable Account Annual Information Return

(Section 285BA, Rule 114E)

1. Section 285BA

Annual Information Return has been renamed as Statement of Financial Transaction or Reportable Account (the statement).

It is applicable in respect of transactions registered or recorded during any financial year commencing on or after 1-4-2014.

Sub-section (1) of section 285BA requires certain specified persons

• who is responsible for registering or maintaining books of account or other document
• containing a record of any specified financial transaction or any reportable account as may be prescribed

to furnish statement in respect such specified financial transaction or any reportable account during the financial year as may be prescribed.

Under sub-section (2) of section 285BA the statement has to be furnished within the prescribed time, in the prescribed form and manner.

Sub-section (3) of section 285BA specifies the nature of transactions which can be prescribed by the CBDT for the purpose of reporting in the statement. Board may prescribe different values for different transactions in respect of different persons having regard to the nature of the transaction.

Sub-section (4) of section 285BA w.e.f. 01-09-2019 specifies that if the defect in the statement is not rectified within the time specified therein, the provisions of the Act shall apply as if such person had furnished inaccurate information in the statement.

2. Rule 114E

Rule 114E, substituted by the Income-tax (22nd Amendment) Rules, 2015 with effect from 1st April, 2016 vide Notification No.95/2015 (F.No.142/28/2012-(SO)TPL/SO 3545(E)) dated 30th December, 2015, prescribes the nature of the transactions and the threshold value on or above which information has to submitted in the statement.

Tabular Summary Nature and Value of transactions to be reported in Statement of Financial Transaction :

Tabular Summary of Statement of Financial Transaction

3. Manner of computing the value of the transactions to be reported – Rule 114E(3)

While aggregating the amounts for determining the threshold amount for reporting in respect of any person :

1. all the accounts of the same nature maintained in respect of that person during the financial year shall be taken into account.
2. all the transactions of the same nature recorded in respect of that person during the financial year shall be aggregated.
3. where the account is maintained or transaction is recorded in the name of more than one person, attribute the transaction to all the persons.
4. apply the threshold limit separately to cash deposits in current account or cash withdrawals from current account to be reported under Sl. No.1(c) of the above table.

The above rule shall not be applicable to a reporting person mentioned at Sl. No. 9 i.e., a Authorised Dealer in foreign exchange.

4. Form No. of Statement – Rule 114(E)(4)

Statement of Specified Financial Transactions is to be furnished in Form No. 61A through online transmission of electronic data under digital signature of the person specified in sub-rule (7).

However in case of a reporting person is a Post Master General or a Registrar, Sub-Registrar or Inspector-General the said statement may be furnished in a computer readable media, being a CD or DVD, along with verification in Form V on paper.

The Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) shall specify the procedures, data structures and standards for ensuring secure capture and transmission of data.

5. Authority for accepting statement – Rule 114E(4)

The statement is required to be furnished to the Director or Joint Director of Income-tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation).

6. Time Limit of Filing Statement – Rule 114E(5)

Statement of Specified Financial Transactions is to be furnished on or before 31st May, immediately following the financial year in which the transaction is registered or recorded.

7. Manner of Filing Statement – Rules 114E(6) & (7)

7.1. Registration Number to be obtained

Every reporting person shall communicate to the Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) the name, designation, address and telephone number of the Designated Director and the Principal Officer and obtain a Registration number.

7.2. Income-tax Department Reporting Entity Identification Number (ITDREIN)

The person filing the statement is required to quote his Income-tax Department Reporting Identification Number (ITDREIN) in para 1.2 of Part A of Form 61A.

ITDREIN is a 16 character identification number where the first 10 characters is the PAN or TAN of the reporting entity and the last 6 digits is a sequentially generated number.

The reporting entity may use a dummy number (PAN+99999 or TAN+99999) till the ITDREIN is communicated.

7.3 Signing and Verification of statement

Under sub-rule (7) the statement of financial transaction has to be signed, verified and furnished by the Designated Director specified in sub-rule (6).

If the reporting person is a non-resident, the statement may be signed, verified and furnished by a person who holds a valid power of attorney from such Designated Director.

Designated Director, means a person designated by the reporting person to ensure overall compliance with the obligations imposed under section 285BA of the Act and rules 115B to 114E and includes.

1. The Managing Director or a whole time Director duly authorised by the Board of Directors in case of a company.
2. The managing partner in case of a partnership firm.
3. The proprietor in case of a proprietorship concern.
4. The managing trustee in case of a trust.
5. A person or individual who controls and manages the affairs of the reporting entity in case of an unincorporated body or a body of individuals or any other person.

Principal Officer means a officer designated by the reporting person.

8. Penalty for failure to furnish Statement

Section 271FA provides that if the specified person fails to furnish the statement within the time prescribed, then the prescribed Income-tax Authority may impose a penalty of ₹ 100/- for every day during which the failure continues.

Where in pursuance of a notice issued under section (5) of section 285BA there is a failure to furnish the AIR within the period specified in the notice issued then the penalty payable shall be ₹ 500/- for every day during which the failure continues, beginning from the day immediately following the day on which the time specified in such notice for furnishing the AIR expires.

The penalty shall, however not be levied if there is a reasonable cause for the failure to furnish the AIR within the prescribed time.

9. Penalty for furnishing inaccurate information

Section 271FAA inserted by the Finance Act, 2014 w.e.f. 1-4-2015 provides that if a person referred to in section 285BA(1)provides inaccurate information in the statement and where:

1. The inaccuracy is due to failure to comply with the due diligence requirement prescribed u/s. 285BA(7) or is deliberate.
2. The person knows of the inaccuracy at the time of furnishing the statement but does not inform.
3. The person discovers the inaccuracy after furnishing the statement and fails to inform and furnish correct information within the time specified u/s. 285BA(6) then the penalty payable shall be ₹50,000/-.

Earlier penalty was applicable to only prescribed reporting financial institution. Now it has been widened to cover all the persons filing SFT.

10. Defective return, notice, compliances

10.1 Section 285BA (4): Notice for defective return

Where the prescribed Income-tax Authority considers that the AIR furnished under sub-section (1) is defective, he may intimate the defect to the person who has furnished such return and give him an opportunity of rectifying the defect within a period of one month from the date of such intimation or within such further period, the authority may grant on an application in this regard. If the person fails to rectify the defect within the time allowed, the prescribed Income-tax Authority will treat the return as invalid and all the provisions of this Act shall apply as if such person has failed to furnish AIR.

10.2 Section 285BA(5): Compliances in response to notice

Where a person who is required to furnish an AIR has not furnished the same within the prescribed time, the prescribed Income-tax Authority may serve upon such person a notice requiring him to furnish such return within such period as laid down by such authority but not exceeding 60 days from the date of service of such notice.

10.3 Section 285BA(6): Furnishing of correct information on discovery of inaccurate information

If the person after having furnished the statement comes to know or discovers any inaccuracy in the information provided in the statement, he shall inform the Income-tax Authority the inaccuracy and furnish the correct information in the manner as may be prescribed.

10.4 Section 285BA(7) : Registration, due diligence and record keeping

The Central Government may prescribe rules under this section specifying:

1. Registration of persons required to furnish the statement with the prescribed Income-tax Authority.
2. Nature and manner in which the prescribed information shall be maintained.
3. Due diligence to be carried out by the persons for the purpose of identification of any reportable account.