Important Steps for Filing Income Tax Returns for FY 2018-19 by Salary class/Pensioners

Income Tax Return is the form in which assessee files information about his Income and tax thereon to Income Tax Department. Various forms are ITR 1, ITR 2, ITR 3, ITR 4, ITR 5, ITR 6 and ITR 7. When you file a belated return, you are not allowed to carry forward certain losses.

The Income Tax Act, 1961, and the Income Tax Rules, 1962, obligates citizens to file returns with the Income Tax Department at the end of every financial year.These returns should be filed before the specified due date. Every Income Tax Return Form is applicable to a certain section of the Assessees. Only those Forms which are filed by the eligible Assessees are processed by the Income Tax Department of India. 

It is therefore imperative to know which particular form is appropriate in each case. Income Tax Return Forms vary depending on the criteria of the source of income of the Assessee and the category of the Assessee.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_return_(India)

Who are liable to file Income Tax Returns?

It is mandatory to file Income Tax returns, under Section 139 of Income Tax Act – 

• In case of Senior Citizens-If annual pension income + other Income Exceeds Rs 3 lakh . 
• Other than Senior Citizen-If annual income exceeds Rs 2.50 lakh.

Even if a person’s Tax liability would be Nil after availing relevant exemptions, it is mandatory to file Income Tax returns. Few years back, it was of no consequence for a person in not filing IT returns , if the taxable income is Nil and he /she can file the returns belatedly too. 

Penalty for Non filing of IT returns:

But from last year the position is different. IT returns can not be filed even belatedly after the completion of assessment year. The penalty for Non filing Income tax returns ranges from Rs1000/- to Rs 10,000/-. Hence, it becomes necessary for those who are having annual income exceeding Rs 250,000/Rs 300,000/- to file Income Tax returns with in the stipulated due date. 

Due Date for filing IT returns for Last FY is 31st July19.

IT Return forms for Salary class and Pensioners:

• Common IT return form used by Salary Class is ITR I . This is meant for Individuals ( Salary class and Pensioners) .
• For those who are eligible to file ITR I but who are having Short Term and Long Term capital Gain Income on account of investments in Shares, Mutual Funds and Immovable properties the form to be used is ITR II.

Steps for filing  IT returns online:

1. It will be easy to file online return in e filing portal of Income Tax Department. Keep your Aadhaar Number, Bank account details ( like IFS code and account Number ) ready .

2. Before filing IT return ensure the following facts and figures are correct
a. Annual Salary/Pension income is what is given in part B of F 16 , or as in Pension Statement or the actual gross credit received .

b. TDS effected is reflected in 26 AS . One can file return with out Forms 16 A and 16( Part A) as the details are available in 26 AS.( But they have to ensure that they include total interest received /accrued from various sources . In such cases it is better to have Interest certificate from Banks that includes all interest received with out omission.) 

c. Total other income has to be more than what is given in 26 AS. As 26 AS reflects only the term deposit interests .From this year onwards , one can find entries for Deposit Interest Credits in 26 AS , even when TDS is not deducted ( due to submission of 15G/15H).

d. In 26 AS , SB interest, Bond Interest, Interest on Income Tax refund Order would not be there. But it has to be included in other income. This Year ITR I has been modified to have detailed break up for other income like Int on deposits, SB interest, Other Interest, Int on ITRO etc.

e. For this FY, Standard Deduction is Rs 40,000/- . 

f. Before filing IT returns one should include Other Income , avail all eligible deductions and arrive at Tax Liability. If Income Tax has to be paid ,the same has to be paid in tin-NSDL portal by following the steps - Challan NO- ITNS280>IT-0021>Assessment Year 2019-20>Self Assessment Tax300. One can mention the amount Due as Income Tax , with out bifurcating them into Surcharge , cess etc. Note down the BSR number of the Bank and Challan Serial Number for further reference. Wait for 4 to 7 days so that it is getting reflected in 26 AS.

g. After ensuring that all TDs effected and Tax paid as advance Tax, Self assessment Tax are correctly reflected in 26 AS , one can proceed filing Income Tax return.

3. Log in to e filing Portal of Income Tax department: https://www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/home

Select option -e Filing of Income Tax Returns on line. 

Verify the particulars like Aadhaar number, address etc, already captured from the previous year data and shown in the return. Use Save draft option frequently. Fill in the data regarding income,. Fill in eligible deduction –Standard Deductions of Rs 40,000/-( not applicable for family pension) and Professional Tax paid if any under Sec 16.

4. Details on Income from House Property to be provided in B2 , Income From Other Sources in B3.

5. Family pension income comes under B3-Income from Other sources. For family pension a deduction of Rs 15,000/- or 33.33% of FP I which ever is lesser is eligible under Sec 57(iia) of IT Act.

6. This year, for Other income, details like Int on Deposits, SB Interest, Interest Income from Bonds, Income Tax Refund Order Interest are to be provided in the respective sub heads.

7. In part C deductions on account of 80 C , 80 D etc are to be given. Senior Citizens can avail deduction on Interest on Bank Deposits , including SB interest up to a maximum limit of Rs 50,000/- under Sec 80 TTB. Senior Citizens not eligible for deduction under Sec 80 TTA. Sec 80 TTA is meant for individuals other than Senior Citizen , up to a maximum of Rs 10,000/- towards SB interest alone.( Term Deposit interest excluded)

8. Part D – Computation of Income Tax will be done by the system based on the inputs given and figures furnished/matched with 26 AS.

9. Tax deducted /Paid details would be shown in TDS 1, 2 and in Schedules of Advance Tax/Self Assessment Tax paid based on figures available in 26 AS.

10. After completion , preview and submit the return. In case in preview , some modification needs to be done , edit option can be used.

11. After submission, Acknowledgement V can be e verified with the options given . It can be done either based on Aadhaar OTP, or through Internet Banking.

12. After successful e verification , this can be viewed under option View Return and Forms> Income Tax Returns. Download ITR I and ITR V and save it in a folder. After the Assessment is over ( this may take few weeks/months) the status would be changed to Assessed for the relevant year.

Courtesy: A friend who has shared the above steps in WhatsApp Group..

Stay safe Online

When dealing with cyber crime, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure. Cyber crime in its many forms (e.g., online identity theft, financial fraud, stalking, bullying, hacking, email spoofing, information piracy and forgery and intellectual property crime) can, at best, wreak havoc in victims’ lives through major inconvenience and annoyance. At worst, cyber crime can lead to financial ruin and potentially threaten a victim’s reputation and personal safety.

It’s always wise to do as much as possible to prevent cyber crime by following the Online Safety Basic steps given below:

ONLINE SAFETY BASICS

Spam and Phishing

Cyber criminals have become quite savvy in their attempts to lure people in and get you to click on a link or open an attachment.

Malicious Email

A malicious email can look just like it comes from a financial institution, an e-commerce site, a government agency or any other service or business.

It often urges you to act quickly, because your account has been compromised, your order cannot be fulfilled or there is another urgent matter to address.

If you are unsure whether an email request is legitimate, try to verify it with these steps:

• Contact the company directly – using information provided on an account statement, on the company’s official website or on the back of a credit card.
• Search for the company online – but not with information provided in the email.

Spam

Spam is the electronic equivalent of junk mail. The term refers to unsolicited, bulk – and often unwanted – email. Here are ways to reduce spam:

• Enable filters on your email programs: Most internet service providers (ISPs) and email providers offer spam filters; however, depending on the level you set, you may end up blocking emails you want. It’s a good idea to occasionally check your junk folder to ensure the filters are working properly.
• Report spam: Most email clients offer ways to mark an email as spam or report instances of spam. Reporting spam will also help to prevent the messages from being directly delivered to your inbox.
• Own your online presence: Consider hiding your email address from online profiles and social networking sites or only allowing certain people to view your personal information. 

Phishing

Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites (clicking on a link) to collect personal and financial information or infect your machine with malware and viruses.

Spear Phishing

Spear phishing involves highly specialized attacks against specific targets or small groups of targets to collect information or gain access to systems. For example, a cyber criminal may launch a spear phishing attack against a business to gain credentials to access a list of customers. From that attack, they may launch a phishing attack against the customers of the business. Since they have gained access to the network, the email they send may look even more authentic and because the recipient is already customer of the business, the email may more easily make it through filters and the recipient maybe more likely to open the email.

The cyber criminal can use even more devious social engineering efforts such as indicating there is an important technical update or new lower pricing to lure people.

Spam & Phishing on Social Networks

Spam, phishing and other scams aren’t limited to just email. They’re also prevalent on social networking sites. The same rules apply on social networks: When in doubt, throw it out. This rule applies to links in online ads, status updates, tweets and other posts. 

Tips for Avoiding Being a Victim

• Don’t reveal personal or financial information in an email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information. This includes following links sent in email.
• Before sending or entering sensitive information online, check the security of the website.
• Pay attention to the website’s URL. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (e.g., .com versus .net).
• If you are unsure whether an email request is legitimate, try to verify it by contacting the company directly. Contact the company using information provided on an account statement, not information provided in an email. Check out the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) to learn about known phishing attacks and/or report phishing.
• Keep a clean machine. Keep all software on internet-connected devices – including PCs, smartphones and tablets – up to date to reduce risk of infection from malware.

What to Do if You Are a Victim

• Report it to the appropriate people within the organization, including network administrators. They can be alert for any suspicious or unusual activity.
• If you believe your financial accounts may be compromised, contact your financial institution immediately and close the account(s).
• Watch for any unauthorized charges to your account.
• Consider reporting the attack to your local police department, and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• Protect Yourself With These STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ Tips
• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts and online advertising are often how cyber criminals try to compromise your information. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or – if appropriate – mark it as junk.
• Think before you act: Be wary of communications that implores you to act immediately, offers something that sounds too good to be true or asks for personal information.
• Make your passphrase a sentence: A strong passphrase is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that you like to think about and are easy to remember (for example, “I love country music.”). On many sites, you can even use spaces!
• Unique account, unique passphrase: Having separate passphrases for every account helps to thwart cyber criminals. At a minimum, separate your work and personal accounts and make sure that your critical accounts have the strongest passphrases.
• Lock down your login: Fortify your online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics, security keys or a unique one-time code through an app on your mobile device. Your usernames and passphrases are not enough to protect key accounts like email, banking and social media. 
• Malware and Botnets
• Viruses
• Viruses are harmful programs that can be transmitted to computers and other connected devices in a number of ways. Although viruses differ in many ways, all are designed to spread themselves from one device to another and cause havoc. Most commonly, viruses are designed to give the criminals who create them some sort of access to the infected devices.
• Spyware
• The terms “spyware” and “adware” apply to several different technologies. The two important things to know about them are that:
• They can download themselves onto your device without your permission (typically when you visit an unsafe website or via an attachment).
• They can make your computer do things you don’t want it to do, such as as opening an advertisement you didn’t want to see. In the worst cases, spyware can track your online movements, steal your passphrases and/or compromise your accounts.
• Botnets
• Botnets are networks of computers infected by malware (such as computer viruses, key loggers and other malicious software) and controlled remotely by criminals, usually for financial gain or to launch attacks on websites or networks.
• 
• If your computer is infected with this malware and part of a botnet, it communicates and receives instructions about what it’s supposed to do from “command and control” computers located anywhere around the globe. What your computer does depends on what the cyber criminals are trying to accomplish.
• Many botnets are designed to harvest data, such as passphrases, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, addresses, telephone numbers and other personal information. The data is then used for nefarious purposes, such as identity theft, credit card fraud, spamming (sending junk email), website attacks and malware distribution.
• Ransomware
• Ransomware is a type of malware that accesses a victim’s files, locks and encrypts them and then demands the victim to pay a ransom to get them back. Cyber criminals use these attacks to try to get users to click on attachments or links that appear legitimate but actually contain malicious code. Ransomware is like the “digital kidnapping” of valuable data – from personal photos and memories to client information, financial records and intellectual property. Any individual or organization could be a potential ransomware target.
• Protect Yourself With These STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ Tips:
• Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser and operating system is the best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats.
• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, social media posts and online advertising are often how cyber criminals try to steal your personal information. Even if you know the source, if something looks suspicious, delete it.
• Protect all devices that connect to the internet: Along with computers, smartphones, gaming systems and other web-enabled devices also need protection from viruses and malware.
• Plug & scan: USBs and other external devices can be infected by viruses and malware. Use your security software to scan them.
• 
  
• SOURCE AND FOR OTHER GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE SAFETY:
• https://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/online-safety-basics/
• 
  

Income Tax Slab for the Financial Year 2019-2020 (Annual Year 2020-2021) for Individuals

The income tax slab is a table that shows the threshold limit beyond which a specific tax rate is applicable and various deductions are made as per the applicable rate. As per the union budget below are the various slabs for Individuals according to which income tax is assessed in various categories.

Income tax slabs for resident Individual below 60 years of age

Taxable income slabs           Income tax rates and cess

Up to Rs 2.5 lakh                      Nil

Rs 2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000      5% of (Total income minus Rs 2,50,000) + 4%  

                                              cess

Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000    Rs 12,500 + 20% of (Total income minus Rs 

                                              5,00,000) + 4% cess

Rs 10,00,001 and above          Rs 1,12,500 + 30% of (Total income minus Rs 

                                             10,00,000) + 4% cess

Additional Components

1. Surcharge: In case income is more than ₹ 50 lakhs and less than ₹ 1 crore, the surcharge is applicable at a rate of 10% of the income tax. For income, more than ₹ 1 crore, a surcharge of 15% is applicable on income tax on the amount exceeding ₹ 1 crore.
2. Health and Education Cess: “Education Cess” and “Secondary and Higher Education Cess” will be replaced by “Health and Education Cess” at the rate of 4%, on the amount of tax computed, inclusive of surcharge.
3. The interim budget 2019 has provisioned to provide a full tax rebate to individuals having a net taxable income (income adjusted after eligible tax deductions) upto Rs 5lakhs. It means that the maximum tax rebate provided under section 87A has been increased from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 12,500. Individuals having net taxable income upto Rs. 5lakhs can claim the tax rebate under 87A and thus effectively pay zero tax.

Eligibility Criteria for Claiming Tax Rebate Under Section 87A

In order to claim tax rebate under section 87A, you should be meeting the following conditions:

• You must be a Resident Individual. The rebate can only be claimed by the taxpaying individuals. It cannot be claimed by HUF, firms or companies.
• Your net taxable income for FY 2019-20 (income after deductions) should not be more than Rs. 5 lakh.
• The maximum rebate that can be availed under section 87A is Rs. 12,500. It means that if the total tax payable is less than or equal to RS. 12,500, full tax rebate can be claimed.

Income tax slabs for resident individual between 60 and 80 years of age (Senior Citizen)

Taxable income slabs	Income tax rates and cess

Up to Rs 3 lakh                                Nil
Rs 3,00,001 to Rs 5,00,000     5% of (Total income minus Rs 3,00,000) +  
                                                    4% cess
Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000     Rs 10,000 + 20% of (Total income minus  
                                                    Rs 5,00,000) + 4% cess
Rs 10,00,001 and above                Rs 1,10,000 + 30% of (Total income minus 
                                                    Rs 10,00,000) + 4% cess

Income tax slabs for resident individual above 80 years of age (Super Senior Citizen)

Taxable income slabs      Income tax rates and cess

Up to Rs 5 lakh                                Nil
Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000            20% of (Total income minus Rs 
                                                     5,00,000) + 4% cess
Rs 10,00,001 and above                  Rs 1,00,000 + 30% of (Total income 
                                                     minus Rs 10,00,000) + 4% cess

Source and for other details :

 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/calculators/income-tax-calculator

 https://www.paisabazaar.com/tax/income-tax-slab/

My travelogue to Malaysia and Singapore in 2010

Picture courtesy :Google Images

Having written my travelogue to Hampi and Dubai visited by me during 2018 which was well received  by many readers, I wish to post my experiences of travel to Malaysia and Singapore in the year 2010. Except a few photos taken from Google Images, all other photos in this article were taken by me in Canon Camera.

Links to my other Travelogues:

• Travelogue to Hampi
• Travelogue to Dubai

Preparation for the visit:

Getting VISAs for the journey:

After my retirement in June 2010, my son who was working in Malaysia wanted me and my wife to make a short visit to Malaysia and Singapore for sightseeing. We planned to start to Malaysia from Chennai on 20.8.2010 and return from Singapore to Chennai on 26.8.2010. After booking the flight tickets, I went to a Travel Agency for getting VISAs for both Malaysia and Singapore visits. On the day of getting the visas from the Travel Agency , my car broke down on the way and after one hour struggle it started. Since the air conditioner in the car was not working the driver drove the car keeping all the windows opened. I felt uneasy with  winds of lot of pressure hitting my ears.

Vertigo attack:

On the next day morning when  I tried to get up from the bed, I felt that the room was spinning around me.( I had a doubt if it had happened due to the entry of lot of air inside my ears with so much force.) It happened many times and I was taken  to a Doctor by my wife and the landlord of the house where I was staying. Doctor advised me to undergo many tests including MRI. Even during the tests by the doctor and during various tests conducted in the Clinic, I was unable to lie down due to the dizzy feeling and I was unable to walk steadily. All the tests conducted showed nothing wrong with me. After seeing the reports the doctor diagnosed my illness as Vertigo and prescribed medicines. My wife asked the doctor if I could go for the trip to Malaysia, he said that we could visit and continue to take the medicines.

So during the entire trip to Malaysia and Singapore I was suffering from Vertigo problem though not severe as on the first day of attack.But I could manage to walk and see the places visited by us without much difficulty.

Trip to Malaysia:

On 20.8.2000  myself and my wife boarded Jet Airways and after three hours journey reached Kuala Lumpur. We were received by our son at the Airport and he took us to Cyber View Resort and Spa in Cyber Jaya  where he had booked room for our stay. (Cyberview Resort & Spa is a 5-star boutique resort, a veritable paradise set on 28.8 acre of award-winning landscaped gardens, featuring world-class quality of service and unparalleled Malaysian hospitality. Surrounded by towering palm trees, lush foliage, splendid tropical gardens, and meandering paths, the resort effortlessly blends rustic charm and with its state-of-the-art comforts in all its one hundred and twelve lovely chalets, suites and bungalows. )

For further information and  booking  http://www.cyberviewresort.com/.

The resort's location and environment was very beautiful with plenty of  flower plants and trees.

Cottage in the resort where we stayed

After taking rest in the room,we boarded a train in Kuala Lumpur railway station to go to Kota Bharu where my wife's sister's daughter and her husband were practicing as doctors. Kota Bharu is about 450 kms from Kuala Lumpur and we had to travel through forest area with tall trees and we enjoyed watching the beauty of the nature.

On the way to Kota Bharu

The nearest railway station to Kota Bharu is called Wakaf Bharu which is just a couple of kilometres to the west of the city. My sister in law's daughter came to the station to receive us and took us to her house. 

Sight seeing on 21.8.2010

After a good night sleep ,next day we visited some Buddha temples.

Wat Phothivihan :About 15km from Kota Bharu, this temple houses what is claimed to be one of the longest reclining Buddha in the world. At 40m long, it is even longer than the reclining Buddha housed in the more famous Wat Chayamangkalaram in Penang.

Part of reclining Buddha

In another Buddha temple visited by us  was at Wat Machimmaram where we could see a tall sitting Buddha

Sitting Buddha

After visiting the buddha temples and some shopping in Kota Bahru we returned to Kuala Lumpur on 23.8.2010 by train.

Sight seeing on 23.8.2010 in Kuala Lumpur:

On 23.8.2010 morning after taking breakfast in the Resort we went to Putra Jaya Railway station and took a train to go to Kuala Lumpur. We visited The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers, are twin skyscrapers. We went inside the tower and spent some time in watching  a music program.

Petronas Towers

Music Program inside the tower

In the evening we went to see Putra Mosque in Putra Jaya. It is located next to the Perdana Putra, which houses the Malaysian Prime Minister's office and man-made Putrajaya Lake. In front of the mosque is a large square with flagpoles flying Malaysian states' flags.

Putra Mosque on the left and Perdana Putra on the right of the picture

Picture courtesy: Google Images

Putra Mosque

Perdana Putra  (Image Wikipedia)

We also saw the Seri Wawasan Bridge which is  the most elegant of the bridges in Putrajaya. Its futuristic design combines cable back stays and standard steel tie backs. Its curvaceous and slender profile is easily visible from many vantage points in the city. At night the bridge is illuminated with changing coloured lights. The bridge is 240m long and the main span is 168m long. There are 102 cables used in its construction.https://www.malaysia-traveller.com/bridges-in-putrajaya.html

 Seri Wawasan Bridge

Sight seeing on 24.8.2010

On 24.8.2010 we went to the famous Batu Caves Hill temple of Lord Muruga. Batu Caves in short also referred as 10th Caves or Hill for Lord Muruga as there are six important holy shrines in India and four more in Malaysia. The three others in Malaysia are Kallumalai Temple in Ipoh, Tanneermalai Temple in Penang and Sannasimalai Temple in Malacca.(Wikipedia)

While we could worship the deities at the bottom of the hill and saw the tall Muruga Idol, I was unable to climb the steps of the hill due to vertigo problem to see the deity on the top of the hill .

Temple at the foot of the hill

                                Idol of Lord Muruga at the bottom of the Hill

Travel to Singapore on 24.8.2010 by train:

On 24.8.2010 night we boarded the train at Sentral station Kuala Lumpur  to reach Singapore. I was surprised to see the railway station at Kuala Lumpur looked like a airport in appearance and maintenance:

Sentral station in Kuala Lumpur

We traveled in sleeper berth coach and slept well. Basic amenities in the train were just like the amenities available in India, The train stopped in one station in the middle of night when all the passengers had to get down from the train for stamping the Passport at the Immigration counters in the train. After the formalities of immigration check up we had to board the train again which reached Singapore next day early morning after about 9 hours journey. 

Sight seeing in Singapore on 25.8.2010

On reaching Singapore Station we were picked up by my friend and bank colleague Mr.Moreira who was kind enough to accommodate us in his house.After taking breakfast we went for sightseeing by one of the tourist bus Duck and Hippo tour . 

Duck and Hippo bus

We rode around the city sitting on top of the bus  covering sites such as Chinatown, Little India, Botanical Garden. We could listen to commentary as we passed the most important landmarks in the city.  

We got down at  the Botanical garden where we could see many beautiful flower plants and trees.

Plants in the Botanical garden

After visiting the Botanical gardens we visited a Hindu Temple and worshiped the deity there.

Temple in Singapore

Lord Ganesha in the Temple 

After taking lunch  we went for the tour again in the bus and could see many places on the route like Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel  etc.

                         Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck

 Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel

 We also had the experience of going round in the  Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel which is  one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the world. Standing in the glass capsule on the Singapore Flyer, we could gaze out upon sights including the sculptures springing out from Gardens by the Bay and the gleaming architecture of the Marina Bay Sands. It was really a thrilling experience for us.

View of Singapore from the Capsule

During the end of the day after taking our dinner we spent some time sitting in a place watching the illuminated buildings  and the laser shows from the high rise buildings.

Return to Chennai on 26.8.2010

After completing our trip to Singapore  on  26th Morning we reached Changi Airport, Singapore which is  one of the largest transportation hubs in Southeast Asia. 

Picture Courtesy : Google Images

It gave us an opportunity to see  and admire the grandeur of the Airport which is rated as World's Best Airport for many years. We returned to Chennai by flight on the same day.