The Income Tax Act has made the income of employees chargeable to tax. The employer is responsible for the payment of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) for the salary that is paid to the employees whose annual salaries are above the maximum amount exempted from tax.

The Indian fiscal year runs from 1 April to 31 March. An employee/employer is liable to pay taxes in India based on his/her tax during a fiscal year. An employee/employer who is liable to pay taxes in India must apply for a tax registration number i.e. Permanent Account Number (PAN) with the Indian Income Tax Authorities in Form 49AA / Form 49A as applicable together with the prescribed documents.

Tax payment

Taxes on income earned will be payable through the following mechanisms.

• Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) – Estimation of total income must be mentioned. Monthly deductions and remittance of taxes and other withholding taxes.
• Advance tax – It will be triggered only if tax exceeds 10,000. Determination of tax on an estimated personal income. Payment of tax in installments due by the 15th of September/ December and March of every fiscal year.
• Self-Assessment tax – Determination of tax on actual income. Payment of tax on or before filing a return of income.

Penalties

Where the employer has failed to deduct tax, he/she is liable to pay interest. Where the employer has deducted the tax at source but failed to deposit wholly or partly, he/she is an assessee in default and liable to pay interest. The court said it was the employer’s responsibility towards employees to deduct the applicable tax at source on their income at the applicable rates, and where the tax was deducted at source, the taxpayer shall not be called upon to pay the amount himself/herself to the extent of the deduction. But if the employees’ total income exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax and the employer is deducting no TDS, then the employee is under an obligation to pay tax through the advance tax rate.

Paying the right taxes is a moral and legal obligation of every proud citizen of the country. The Indian Income Tax department is very flexible and designed to make sure there are no unnecessary taxes that may become a financial burden on the taxpayer.