CBDT issues clarification in respect of income-tax clearance certificate

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The Ministry of Finance has dismissed the reports which said that all Indian citizens must obtain income-tax clearance certificate (ITCC) before leaving the country, said an official release from the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday.

"It is being erroneously reported that all Indian citizens must obtain income-tax clearance certificate (ITCC) before leaving the country - a position that is factually incorrect," the press release said.

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Section 230 (1A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the 'Act') relates to obtaining a income-tax clearance certificate, in certain circumstances, by persons domiciled in India. The said provision, as it stands, came on the statute through the Finance Act. The Finance (No.2) Act, 2024, has made only an amendment in Section 230(1A) of the Act, vide which, reference of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 (the 'Black Money Act') has been inserted in the said Section, it added.

This insertion has been made to also cover the liabilities under the Black Money Act in the same manner as the liabilities under the Income-tax Act, 1961, and other Acts dealing with direct taxes for the purpose of Section 230(1A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, it said.

"There appears to be misinformation about the said amendment emanating from an incorrect interpretation of the amendment. It is being erroneously reported that all Indian citizens must obtain an income-tax clearance certificate (ITCC) before leaving the country. This position is factually incorrect," the press release said.

As per section 230 of the Act, every person is not required to obtain a tax clearance certificate. Only certain persons, in respect of whom circumstances exist which make it necessary to obtain a tax clearance certificate, are required to obtain the said certificate. This position has been in the statute since 2003 and remains unchanged even with the amendments vide Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, the release noted.

In this context, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has specified that the tax clearance certificate under Section 230(1A) of the Act, may be required to be obtained by persons domiciled in India only where the person is involved in serious financial irregularities and his presence is necessary in investigation of cases under the Income-tax Act or the Wealth-tax Act and it is likely that a tax demand will be raised against the person, the release further noted.

It is required when the person has direct tax arrears exceeding Rs 10 lakh outstanding against him which have not been stayed by any authority.

Further, a person can be asked to obtain a tax clearance certificate only after recording the reasons for the same and after taking approval from the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax or Chief Commissioner of Income-tax.

In view thereof, it is reiterated that the ITCC under Section 230(1A) of the Act, is needed by residents domiciled in India, only in rare cases, such as (a) where a person is involved in serious financial irregularities or (b) where a tax demand of more than Rs. 10 lakhs is pending which is not stayed by any authority, it added.