The following new single copy challans have been introduced with effect from July 2005:

Sr. No. Challan No. Description Type Of Payment 1. ITNS 280 for payment of Income Tax and Corporation Tax Advance Tax Surtax Self Assessment Tax Tax On Distributed Profits Of Domestic Companies Tax On Regular Assessment Tax On Distributed Income To Unit Holders 2. ITNS 281 for depositing Tax Deducted at Source/Tax Collected at Source (TDS/TCS) from corporates or non-corporates TDS/TCS Payable By The Taxpayer TDS/TCS Regular Assessment (Raised By IT Department) 3. ITNS 282 for payment of Securities Transaction Tax, Hotel Receipts Tax, Estate Duty, Wealth Tax, Gift Tax, Expenditure Tax and Other direct taxes Advance Tax Tax On Regular Assessment Self Assessment Tax 4. ITNS 283 for payment of Banking Cash Transaction Tax and Fringe Benefits Tax Advance Tax Tax On Regular Assessment Self Assessment Tax

Each challan has a taxpayer counterfoil at the bottom which will be returned to you by the bank after duly stamping it with a Challan Identification Number (CIN).

Soft copies of these challans are available at NSDL-TIN website and Income Tax Department website. Challans are also available at the local Income tax offices and with private vendors.

The new system is of great benefit to the common tax payer. Now a single simplified challan has to be filled up replacing the complicated four-copy challan. This challan can be filled up much faster. Secondly, it will be possible to obtain an acknowledgement for taxes paid at your own bank branch immediately. Further, once you have the acknowledgement counterfoil with the rubber stamp containing the Challan Identification Number (CIN) and you have filled in your PAN correctly, you are assured that the payment will be properly accounted for in your name. Lastly, you will no longer need to attach copies/ acknowledgement of challan with your return. Simply mention the CIN details in the income-tax return. This will also assist you in e-filing your return.

No

If you are paying taxes in cash at any designated bank branch or by cheque at the bank branch where you have a bank account, the bank will accept your cash/cheque and will immediately stamp the counterfoil of the challan with a rubber stamp containing the CIN.
If however, you are paying taxes by cheque/draft at a bank branch other than where you have a bank account, the collecting bank branch will accept your cheque/draft and issue you a paper token in acknowledgement. When you present this token after encashment of the cheque, the bank will hand over the acknowledgement counterfoil duly stamped with the CIN.

Challan Identification Number (CIN) has three parts

• Seven digit BSR code of the bank branch where tax is deposited
  
• Date of Deposit (DD/MM/YY) of tax
  
• Serial Number of Challan

CIN is stamped on the acknowledgement receipt to uniquely identify the tax payment. CIN has to be quoted in the return of income as a proof of payment. CIN is also to be quoted in any further enquiry. Therefore, you must ensure that CIN (comprising the above three parts) is stamped on the Challan by the bank. If not, immediately contact the bank manager and insist on CIN.
The Reserve Bank of India has already passed an order dated April 1, 2004 making it compulsory for all tax collecting branches of banks to use a rubber stamp acknowledgement that carries CIN. A separate CIN is given for each challan deposited. If the Bank Manager is unable to resolve the issue, you should address your grievance to the Bank's Regional Manager and the Regional Office of Reserve Bank of India for redressal.

The Acknowledgement stamp of the bank will contain the following information:

• Bank Branch Name
• BSR (7 digit)
• Deposit Date (DDMMYY)
• Serial No.

No, it will be considered sufficient proof if you quote your Challan Identification Number (CIN) (as mentioned in your counterfoil) in your return. The Income-tax return forms have been suitably modified.

Kindly approach the bank where you have deposited the tax and request them to issue you a certificate which contains your payment particulars including CIN.

Each bank follows its own procedure so you may contact the branch manager of the bank.