Income Tax Department issues guidelines on 1% tax deduction by e-commerce operators [Read Circular]

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued Guidelines under sub-section (4) of section 194-0 of the Income-tax Act 1961 vide Circular No. 20 of 2023 dated 28th December, 2023.

Finance Act, 2020 had inserted section 194-0 in the Act mandating that an e-commerce operator (ECO) shall deduct income-tax at the rate of one per cent of the gross amount of sale of goods or provision of service or both, facilitated through its digital or electronic facility or platform. However, exemption from the said deduction has been provided in case of certain individuals or Hindu undivided family fulfilling certain conditions. This deduction is required to be made at the time of credit of amount of such sale or service or both to the account of an e-commerce participant or at the time of payment thereof to such e­ commerce participant, whichever is earlier. Any payment made by a buyer to a seller, both e-commerce participants, in a transaction facilitated by the e-commerce operator, shall be deemed to be the payment by the e-commerce operator to the seller and shall be included in the gross amount of sale of goods or provision of services or both for the purposes of tax deduction at source (herein after referred to as the ‘deemed payment’).

Sub-section (4) of section 194-0 of the Act empowers the Board (with the approval of the Central Government), to issue guidelines for the purpose of removing difficulties. Earlier, guidelines on section 194-0 of the Act were issued vide Circular no. 17 of 2020 dated 29th September, 2020 and Circular no. 20 of 2021 dated 25th November 2021. Representations have been received by the Board for further clarifications. In exercise of the power contained under sub-section (4) of section 194-0 of the Act, the Board, with the approval of the Central Government, hereby issues the following guidelines.