Arunachal Tribals need to obtain Exemption Certificate from Income Tax Department: Deputy CM

In accordance with Clause 26 of Article 366 of the Constitution, the indigenous tribal population of Arunachal Pradesh living in the territories listed in the 6th Schedule is exempt from the Income Tax Act of 1961, according to the Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Chowna Mein.

Mein responded to a query raised in the assembly by Congressman Nabam Tuki regarding notices the state’s income tax department had sent to some of the state’s tribal residents, stating that Section 197 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 requires the tribal population to obtain a Tax Exemption Certificate (TEC) from the income tax department.

“Every indigenous person who makes money within his state is exempt from income tax. However, if the person earns money in a non-scheduled area or in another state, he must pay income tax,” Mein, who also holds the finance, planning, and investment portfolios, explained.

When Tuki mentioned that the income tax agency had given notices to many people in the state on the amount placed in their bank several years ago, the deputy chief minister stated that the state government had not received any such information of harassment up to that moment.