Profession Tax Amnesty Scheme

LAST DATE OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR PROFESSION TAX AMNESTY SCHEME EXTENDED TO 03.11.2007.

Data Security at Law Firms in India

Major law firms in the country have taken several strong measures and beefed up their data security after a serious theft at a law firm in Delhi.

Late last year important data along with hard drives was stolen by the four employees of the Law Firm Titus & Co in Delhi by a Nigerian National Alfred Adebare along with Seema Jhingan, Alishan Naqvee and Dimpy Mohanty .

Taking cue from this various law firms have taken several measures to protect the vital data this includes installing linux mail servers, password protected master computers , sealing of floppy and CD drives, scanning of e-mails and disabling of bluetooth and infrared.

Some of the actions taken for data protection by law firms include

(1) AZB & Partners

One back up drive for backup files and user needs authentication from the administrator to access back up files.

One Linux mail server from where all e-mails are received and sent by all advocates

Master computer for each of the four computers in a room and the master computer is password protected.

All e-mails are stored and copied to Zia Mody.

Floppy drive and CD drive are sealed.

(2) Amarchand Mangaldas and Shroff

Floppy drive and CD drive are sealed

Luthra & Luthra

Floppy drive and CD drive are sealed.

(4) Pathak & Associates

Provision of intranet restricted to advocates.

(5)Bhasin & Co.

Camera system in each cubicle for surveillance

Floppy drive and CD drive are sealed

Strict internet system and cannot be used for personal purposes

(6)Fox & Mandal

One main server for the e-mails to be sent and received by the advocates

Back up data is stored.

(7)Trilegal

Password for each computer and one needs it to access to the computer.

Lawyers sign confidentiality agreement.

(8)Titus & Co.

Disabled/removed storage/copying devices like Floppy drive and CD Writer.

Disabled input/output port (I/O) of Universal Serial Bus (USB).

Disabled communication options like Bluetooth and Infrared.

Provided secured password on systems to access Server.

Internet access available on two PCs to surf the internet only. These two PCs are not on the Domain Server.

Login on internet PC allowed only with Administrator profile so that

server database cannot be accessed.

Server users do not have login permission on the internet PC.

One PC is used to send and receive e-mails through password

protected outlook express/Microsoft outlook programs.

Data is saved and accessed from the Server only.

Storage media like CDs, floppies, pen drives are not allowed in office

premises.

Data backup is taken on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.Anti-virus installed on every system connected to LAN.

Firewall installed on internet/ email PCs to prevent data hacking.Physical verification of contents of all bags, containers, packets entering and leaving office.

USE MICR CODE TO GET EARLY REFUND

You might be the one of the few who are eligible for refund under the Income Tax Act but dread the thought of waiting for a very long period to get refund. Well, you can overcome this hurdle. Take a look at how MICR Code can fasten the process of you getting the refund.

CA Rajan Gupta has explained in very easy language the usefulness of MICR to get refund.

Profession Tax Amnesty Scheme Working

Profession Tax Amnesty Scheme Working -
Valid from 01.09.2007 to 31.10.2007

Under the Profession Tax Amnesty Scheme - for Registered persons

In case you have registered yourself and have a Enrollment Number, working would be as under:

1. Basic Tax + Interest (@2% p.m)* + Penalty (Rs.300/year)

* The rate of interest is taken as 2% for ease of computation. Earlier it was 1.25%.

Now take entire Basic Tax Amount + 10% x (Interest + Penalty)

E.g: You have not paid profession tax for the 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008.

So calculation would be -

YEAR = BASIC TAX + INTEREST + PENALTY
1. 2005-2006 = 1700 + 1020 + 300
2. 2006-2007 = 2500 + 720 + 300


Interest for 2005-2006 is calculated @ 2 % p.m for 30 months, 2006-2007 for 18 months & so on.

So total payment would be Rs.4200 + 174 + 60 = Rs.4434/-

In case of unregistered person, P.T would be waived upto 2002. Thereafter Basic Tax and Interest working would be the same as registered person. But penalty would be Rs.2/day (comes to Rs.730 per year) instead of flat Rs.300 p.a.

The working has to be submitted in Annexure 1 to the Profession Tax Department along with self attested photocopy of the challan through which payment has been made in the bank.

In case you need any clarifications/Excel PT Amnesty Working Sheet (free of charge), you can mail me/comment.

You can also get Excel Utility from Mera Consultant for Rs.300/-

PS: Do confirm the calculations and check the circular regarding Amnesty scheme before relying on the contents posted here.