Govt allows cash payment of over Rs 2 lakh for Covid treatment

The Income Tax Department has issued a notification allowing hospitals and nursing homes to accept cash payments of Rs 2 lakh and more for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

“The Central Government, in the exercise of powers conferred by clause (iii) of Provision to Section 269ST of the Income-tax Act, 1961, hereby specifies hospitals, dispensaries, nursing homes, Covid Care Centres or similar other medical facilities providing Covid treatment to patients for Section 269ST of the Income-Tax Act,1961 for payment received in cash during 01.04.2021 to 31.05.2021, on obtaining the PAN or AADHAAR of the patient and the payee and the relationship between the patient and the payee by such hospitals, dispensaries, nursing homes, Covid Care Centres or similar other medical facilities,” the Finance Ministry said in a gazette notification.

Granting further relief in view of severe Covid pandemic, provisions of section 269ST of Income-tax Act,1961 relaxed by the Central Govt.
Allows Hospitals/Medical facilities etc providing Covid treatment to patients to receive cash payments of Rs. 2 lakh or more.(1/2) pic.twitter.com/d6AZtqJPKM

— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) May 7, 2021

The relaxation has been granted for the period 01.04.2021 to 31.05.2021, after obtaining PAN or AADHAAR of the patient and the payer.

Earlier, the Finance Ministry had reduced the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) rate on the import of oxygen concentrators for personal use from 28 per cent to 12 per cent. The reduced IGST rate will be applicable till June end. “IGST on import of oxygen concentrators for personal use has been reduced from 28 per cent to 12 per cent to bring IGST rate on such personal imports at par with commercial imports of the same. This reduced IGST rate for imports of concentrator for personal use shall be applicable up to June 30, 2021,” said the Ministry of Finance notification.

Meanwhile, India reported more than 4 lakh positive cases for the third consecutive day today. With 4,01,078 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the cumulative number of cases in the country has now gone up to 2,18,92,676, as per the Union Health Ministry,
The country’s death toll has reached 2,38,270 following 4,187 deaths. At present, India has 37,23,446 active coronavirus cases.

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