Introduction To Income Tax
Introduction To Income Tax
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1.1 Basis of charge
1.2 Finance Bill and Finance Act
1.3 Definitions under IT Act
1.4 Structure of IT Authorities
1.5 Tax Payments (Advance Tax, TDS, TCS, etc.)
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Introduction :
The most important source of revenue of the Government is taxes. The act of levying taxes is
called taxation. A tax is compulsory charge or fees imposed by the Government on individuals or
corporations. The persons who are taxed have to pay the tax irrespective of any corresponding return from
the Goods and Services by the Government. The taxes may be imposed on income and wealth of persons or
corporations and the rate may vary.
What is Tax? :
Compulsory monetary contribution to the states revenue, assessed and imposed by a
Government on the activities, enjoyment, expenditure, income, occupation, privilege, property, etc of
individuals and organizations. Tax is imposition of financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a
state or other the functional equivalent of the state.
1. Selingman : ‘Tax means a compulsorily collected donation from public which is used for the
benefit of all. Tax does not cater to individual needs’.
2. Taylor : ‘Tax means a compulsory donation by public without any direct benefit for such
donation’.
3. Dr. Dalton : ‘Tax is mandatory liability and it does not resemble any reciprocal or proportionate
benefit’.
Types of taxes :
There are two types of taxes in India – (a) Direct Taxes (b) Indirect Taxes
a) Direct Tax : A direct tax is really a tax which is paid by a person on whom it is legally imposed
and the burden of which cannot be shifted to any other person is called a direct tax. For
example - Income Tax, Wealth Tax, etc.
i) Dr. Dalton : ‘When tax is levied on one person and the same is paid by that person then it is said to
be direct tax’.
ii) Prof. Bullock : ‘Tax levied on production of goods is an indirect tax. Similarly tax levied on
income is direct tax’.
b) Indirect Tax : The taxes in which the burden is passed on to a third party are called Indirect
Taxes. For example - Service Tax, VAT, Excise duty, Custom duty, etc.
i) Dalton : The tax which is levied on one person but recovered, partly or fully from some other
person can be defined as indirect tax’.
ii) Prof. Bullock : ‘Tax levied on consumers and tax levied on expenditure could be defined as indirect
tax’.
iii) Prof. J.S.Gill : ‘When tax levied on one person could be transferred on some other person and
when the Government does not expect some specific person to pay such tax, then it is an indirect
tax’.
Principal Directors General of Income Tax / Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax.
xxx(b)