Tax Audit Limit Increased after Budget 2010

Under the existing provisions of section 44AB, every person carrying on business is required to get his accounts audited if the total sales, turnover or gross receipts in business exceed forty lakh rupees in the previous year.

Similarly, a person carrying on a profession is required to get his accounts audited if the gross receipts in profession exceed ten lakh rupees in the previous year.

In order to reduce compliance burden of small businesses and professionals, it is proposed to increase  the aforesaid threshold limit from forty lakh rupees to sixty lakh rupees in the case of persons carrying on business and from ten lakh rupees to fifteen lakh rupees in the case of persons carrying on profession.

In view of the amendment proposed above, it is also proposed to increase the maximum penalty, leviable under section

271B for failure to get accounts audited under section 44AB or to furnish a report of such audit, from one lakh rupees to one lakh fifty thousand rupees.

It is also proposed that for the purpose of presumptive taxation under section 44AD, the threshold limit of total turnover or gross receipts would be increased from forty lakh rupees to sixty lakh rupees.

These amendments are proposed to take effect from 1st April, 2011 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2011-12 and subsequent years.

regards,

ratan