Directions have been given by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to all the TDS assessing officers to dispose of the applications through email as a solution for the difficulties caused due to the lockdown amid coronavirus.
On Friday, the CBDT had issued an order that said, in the present scenario where severe disruption is caused due to COVID-19 outbreak in all the sectors, applications filed by all the payees u/s 195 and 197 of the Act for lower or nil rate of deduction of TDS, and by various categories of persons for the lower rate of collection of TCS for F.Y. 2019-20, may not be attended in a timely manner by the TDS–Assessing Officers.
his can result in facing genuine hardship by the payees, buyers/ licensees/lessees who have raised the invoice in FY 2019-20 but have not received the payment for the same up till date.
As payees and buyers/licensees/lessees were not able to inform on the rate of deduction and collection on such amount to the payer, seller, licensor and lessor, this has led to causing uncertainty about the rate at which the tax is to be deducted/collected by the payer and seller/licensor/lessor at the time of crediting/debiting the amount in his books of account for FY 2019-20,” the Board pointed out.
Considering the issue, the Board directed that these applications should be considered and disposed of through online by the Assessing Officer by 27.04.2020 along with communicating to the applicant regarding the issuance/rejection of certificate vide email.
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