As tax season approaches, individuals and businesses must be familiar with the numerous requirements of the Income Tax Act in order to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. The obligation for a tax audit under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act is one of the important issues that taxpayers should be aware of. In this blog, we’ll go through who requires a tax audit, the procedure, timelines, fines for noncompliance, and more. Tax Vic provides tax audit services with the help of expert professionals at a reasonable rate. Let’s understand the tax audit.
Tax Audit under Section 44AB of IT Act
Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act of 1961 requires tax audits for certain people and corporations. A tax audit is simply a Chartered Accountant (CA) inspection of a taxpayer’s financial accounts to guarantee correctness and compliance with tax rules.
Tax audits are necessary for the following taxpayer categories:
Businesses
If you own a business with gross turnover of more than Rs. 1 crore, you must have your accounts audited under Section 44AB. If cash transactions are less than 5% then the threshold is 10 crores.
Professionals
Professionals such as engineers, doctors, lawyers, and architects, among others, are subject to tax examination if their gross receipts surpass Rs. 50 lakhs in a financial year.
Presumptive Taxation Scheme
If your business opts for the presumptive taxation system described in Sections 44AD, 44ADA, or 44AE, and the profit declared is less than specified limit, a tax audit becomes mandatory.
Read more on Presumptive taxation.
Procedure for Tax Audit
A tax audit requires numerous processes to ensure a thorough examination of financial information. Here’s a rundown of the procedure:
Appointment of Chartered Accountant (CA)
A qualified CA has to be appointed by the taxpayer to undertake the tax audit.
Documents Submission
All relevant financial papers, including audited balance sheets, profit and loss statements, books of accounts, bank statements, and other appropriate records, are provided to the CA by the taxpayer.
Audit and Verification
The CA evaluates the submitted documentation and validates the financial statements’ accuracy. They verify that accounting standards and tax rules are followed.
Audit Report Preparation
The CA generates an audit report based on the examination using Form 3CA/3CB and Form 3CD, as stipulated by the Income Tax Department.
Filing of Audit Report
The audit report, along with the specified forms, is electronically filed with the Income Tax Department by the due date.
Deadline for Tax Audit
In most cases, the deadline for filing the tax audit report under Section 44AB is the same as the deadline for filing the income tax return. Specific dates, however, may vary depending on the taxpayer’s categorization and other considerations. The following is a simplified table explaining the deadlines:
| Category | Due Date for Tax Audit |
| Businesses | September 30 |
| Professionals | September 30 |
| Presumptive Scheme | September 30 |
Penalties for Non-compliance
Noncompliance with tax audit requirements may result in the following fines under the Income Tax Act:
Late Filing Penalty
Failure to file the tax audit report on time may result in a penalty of 0.5% of total turnover or gross receipts, up to Rs. 1,50,000.
Inaccurate Reporting
If the audit report contains incorrect information or errors, a penalty of 150% of the under-reported tax may be imposed.
Non-Maintenance of Books
A penalty of Rs. 25,000 might be imposed if books of accounts are not kept as required by law.
It is crucial to know that the CA’s tax audit report may be investigated by the Income Tax Department. As a result, keeping correct records, adhering to accounting standards, and complying with tax requirements are paramount.
Conclusion
To summarize, understanding Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act is critical for people and businesses to avoid penalties and ensure smooth tax compliance. If you fall into one of the above categories, you should seek the advice of a skilled Chartered Accountant to guide you through the tax audit process and ensure correct financial reporting. Remember that remaining aware and compliant might help you avoid unwanted legal issues and financial damages.
Need Professional Guidance:Â info@taxvic.com
TAXVIC
