Easy Steps for getting Lower Withholding certificate India 2021

How you can apply for a Nil Tax Certificate or Lower Withholding certificate in India? We will discuss the Easy Steps for getting Lower Withholding certificate India 2021. When a taxpayer believes that its total income justifies withholding of tax at a lower rate, it can apply to the assessing officer for a  certificate of withholding tax at a lower rate also known as Nil Tax certificate. The application by the taxpayer to the AO for a certificate of withholding tax at a lower rate is governed by Rule 28AA of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (the Rules).

Procedure for filing application for lower deduction certificate u/s 197 of income tax act ,1961

Steps for Registration on TRACES

• Visit the site https://contents.tdscpc.gov.in/;
• Click on Login and select Register as New User option;
• Select ‘Taxpayer’ from the drop-down list;
• After selecting Proceed, the registration form would be displayed;
• Fill in the appropriate information and submit and the registration in TRACES would be done.

Steps for filing Form 13 post registration on TRACES

• Login in TRACES and under ‘My Profile Tab’, register DSC of the authorized person;
• Under ‘Statements / Form’ tab select ‘Request for Form 13’.
• Form 13 would be displayed and the following appropriate details need to be filled up by the applicant -
• Basic details of the Company and authorized person registered on TRACES portal (The same shall be auto-populated)
• Details of existing liability under Income-Tax Act;
• TAN wise details of estimated income/amount to be received from parties during the subject year (for e.g. FY 2019-20) along with relevant section of TDS (e.g. Section 194C, Section 194J etc.);
• Requested rate of TDS proposed by the taxpayer in respect of the estimated income;
• Details of projected income of the subject year (for e.g. FY 2019-20) and immediately preceding financial year (FY 2018-19);
• Details of estimated tax computation of the subject year (for e.g. FY 2019-20) and immediately preceding financial year (FY 2018-19).
• Further, supporting documents are required to be uploaded which include:
• Final Assessment orders for last 4 assessment years;
• Details/workings for estimated income and tax computation (self attested by authorized person) ;
• Audited Financial Statements of last 3 years;
• Projected Balance Sheet & P/L income of the subject year (for e.g. FY 2019-20) and immediately preceding financial year (FY 2018-19) (self attested by authorized person).
• Acknowledged copy(s) of TDS returns filed for last 2 financial years.
• Once all the details are filled up and appropriate documents are uploaded, the applicant is required to submit the Form 13.

Post submission of Form 13

• The online Form 13 is processed and is reviewed by the AO;
• The AO reviews the details and documents and asks for clarifications, if any;
• Post AO approval, the application is forwarded to Addl CIT for his approval;
• Post approval by Addnl CIT, the application is sent to CIT for review and final approval
• Post approval by CIT, the application is successfully completed and the process for generation of lower withholding certificated is initiated;
• Once Lower Withholding certificate is generated, the same can be downloaded from TRACES portal.