Sec. 44AF

Yes, the assessee is required to maintain Books of accounts and get the accounts audited u/s.44AB in respect of retail business income u/s.44AF, if assessee claims that profits and gains from the said retail business is less than the profits and gains deemed to be his income u/s.44AF (i.e. Less than 5% of the gross receipts from retail business with turnover not exceeding Rs.40.00 lacs). In other words, Profit and gains of such retail business shall be presumptively computed @ 5% of gross receipt or as the case may be, a sum higher than the aforesaid sum as may be declared by the assessee in his ROI. Otherwise, audit u/s.44AB is compulsory.

Yes Ashok sir is right

Sir,

So is it right that a retailer cannot show net profit below 5% of its gross receipts, without getting the books audited, even if gross receipts is well below Rs. 40 lakhs.

Yes, absolutely.