The Income Tax Department has warned individuals who have filed their Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the Assessment Year 2024-25.
It stated that a penalty of Rs 10 lakh would be imposed on taxpayers who fail to disclose their foreign assets and income earned abroad in their ITR.
This penalty can be enforced under the Prevention of Black Money Act. The Department also reminded taxpayers that the deadline for filing late or revised ITRs is December 31.
The Income Tax Department released a public consultation paper for taxpayers as part of a compliance and awareness campaign.
This document emphasizes that taxpayers must provide information regarding foreign assets and income when filing their Income Tax Returns for the Assessment Year 2024-25, and they should not conceal any details.
What else is included in the consultation paper? The Income Tax Department clarified that Indian resident taxpayers must consider specific aspects of transactions conducted in the previous financial year.
If they are involved in certain tax-related activities, tax liability may arise in India, and such transactions must be reported in their ITR.
List of Foreign Assets and Income: The list of foreign assets includes:
- Bank accounts
- Insurance contracts or annuities with cash value
- Financial stakes in a company or business
- Real estate
- Equity and debt interests
- Trusts held by trustees
- Settlor’s benefits
- Accounts with signatory authority
- Custodial accounts
- Assets generating capital gains abroad
Under the compliance and awareness campaign, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) will first send SMS and email notifications to Indian resident taxpayers who have already filed their ITR for the Assessment Year 2024-25.
This communication will target taxpayers identified through information obtained under bilateral and multilateral agreements concerning foreign assets.
Concealment of information on foreign assets and income is an offense: The Income Tax Department specifies that taxpayers who meet the above criteria must complete the Foreign Assets (FA) or Foreign Source Income (FSI) schedule in their ITR.
Even if the foreign income is below the taxable limit, taxpayers are required to disclose the details. Failure to report foreign assets or income in the ITR may result in a penalty of Rs 10 lakh under the Black Money and Tax Imposition Act, 2015.