Self Assessment Tax under section 140A

What is Self assessment tax under section 140A?

On the basis of the incomes earned throughout the year, a taxpayer files his return. After calculating the total tax liability and considering all the taxes paid in advance, if a shortfall arises in the tax payment, it is covered up with the payment of self assessment tax before the filing of return. In other terms, Self Assessment Tax under section 140A is the tax paid at the time of final assessment of the income by the taxpayer earned during the year.

When Self Assessment Tax is paid?

Taxpayer needs to pay Self Assessment Tax before filing of his Income Tax Return but after taking credit of all the taxes paid in advance or relief(s) under various sections.

How to pay Self Assessment Tax?

As mentioned earlier, you can pay self assessment tax before filing of your Income Tax Return. Please make sure that self assessment tax which you pay accompanies Challan no./ITNS 280. You can pay the self assessment tax at any authorized bank or online, through following link :

https://onlineservices.tin.egov-nsdl.com/etaxnew/tdsnontds.jsp

You will have to mention the details of self assessment tax paid such as Challan no., date of payment, etc. in your Income Tax Return.

Figure 1: Online payment of Self Assessment Tax

How is Self Assessment Tax calculated?

Self assessment tax is computed as per the steps mentioned below :

Figure 2: Computation of Self Assessment Tax

How the self assessment tax paid is to be adjusted with the interest under section 234A / 234B / 234C?

Where the self assessment tax paid by an assessee falls short of the actual i.e. the taxpayer does not pay the amount in full then the amount so paid by him shall first get adjusted towards the interest payable and the balance towards the tax.

Let's understand this with the following example.

Following are the tax details of Miss Poonam :

Income Tax including surcharge as per Income Tax Return Rs. 1,00,000

Add: Interest under section 234A / 234B / 234C Rs. 40,000

Rs. 1,40,000

Less: TDS and Advance Tax Rs. 45,000

Self Assessment Tax to be paid under section 140ARs. 95,000

Amount paid as Self Assessment TaxRs. 60,000

Now, as Miss Poonam did not pay self assessment tax in full therefore, the amount paid will first be adjusted towards interest under section 234A / 234B / 234C and the balance towards tax as below.

  1. Rs. 40,000 as interest under section 234A / 234B / 234C and
  2. Rs. 20,000 towards Income Tax

Please note that Interest under section 234A is levied for late filing of Income Tax Return while the Interest under section 234B / 234C is levied for delay in payment of advance tax.

What if you don't pay self assessment tax in full?

Consequences of not paying self assessment tax in full :

  1. Return cannot be filed until and unless the total tax liability of the assessee has been paid by him. Therefore, you will not be able to file your Income Tax Return where you have not paid the taxes in full.
  2. There is a high probability of late return filing where you do not deposit self assessment tax in full. In such cases, you will be liable for Interest u/s 234A for delay in the filing of Income Tax Return.

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