Congress attitude irks income tax authorities

Income tax authorities on Thursday said the Congress party had not given them proper accounts or verification of income and expenditure, despite several opportunities.

All other major political parties, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party, had submitted the details demanded under the Income Tax Act.

Even the Congress pradesh committees had not complied, said the chief commissioner of income tax, Delhi.

"In the income tax return for assessment year 1994-95… some donations from abroad had also been shown," he said. But even after a number of adjourned hearings, the Congress did not submit the names and addresses of donors for over Rs 10,000, he said, adding that such transactions had to be treated as income.

The department has fined the party Rs 240 million for failing to file its tax returns in 1994-95 or appeal against the penalty.

The chief commissioner said since the Congress has not supplied the basic information, the department would have to finalise the assessment order in accordance with the law.

As per section 13A of the Income Tax Act, all political parties must keep and maintain all books, accounts and other documents that would enable the assessing officer to properly deduce income. It also demands that political parties record voluntary contribution in excess of Rs 10,000 with names and addresses of the donors.