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The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which allows for digital payment of salaries or through cheque. The bill will now go to Rajya Sabha and following its passage in the upper House, the amendments will be notified. The move will enable employers to pay wages of less than Rs 18,000 a month by cheque or digitally to bank accounts, besides in cash, by doing away with the requirement of employees' written consent for the same. At present, wages can be given through cheque or transferred to a bank account only after a written authorisation from an employee. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 15, but it could not be taken up for discussion amid din over demonetisation. 08TH FEBRUARY, 2017, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, NEW-DELHI

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill,which makes holding of more than 10 old notes of Rs500/1,000 denomination punishable with a minimum fine of Rs 10,000,  with the government saying the aim was to check parallel economy using the scrapped notes. Piloting the Specified Bank Notes(Cessation of Liabilities) Bill,Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it will extinguish the government’s liability towards  scrapped notes and also eliminate the possibility of their being used as parallel currency. Jaitley said the volume of currency in India was extraordinarily large. 08TH FEBRUARY, 2017, BUSINESS STANDARD, NEW-DELHI

The government on Tuesday said show cause notices have been issued to 536 firms for non-compliance with corporate social responsibility (CSR) norms under the companies law. Under the Companies Act,2013, certain class of profitable entities are required to shell out atleast two percent of their three-year annual average net profit towards CSR activities in a particular financial year.In case of non-spending, the company concerned has to provide explanation to the ministry. 08TH FEBRUARY, 2017, BUSINESS STANDARD, NEW-DELHI

From April 1,chartered accountants (CAs), merchant bankers and valuers can’t escape responsibility for filing of incorrect information in certificates or reports attached with income tax returns of assessees.They will be fined Rs 10,000 for each such certificates or reports, according to a provision in the Budget for 2017-18. For this purpose,the Budget has proposed to insert a new section, 271 J,in the Income Tax Act. "Under Section 271J... we have entrusted responsibility with chartered accountants, valuers and merchant bankers who files audit, valuation reports and other things...," CBDT Chairman Sushil Chandra said at a post-Budget interaction with PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here.“So,if they file any incorrect information in there turns, they are also liable for a token penalty of Rs 10,000.” The whole system is based on"alot of faith on CAs and assessees and they have to be more responsible", he said. While there are many provisions to penalise the d

Model goods and services tax law, which is currently being vetted by the law department, is expected to be finalised by this month-end, said a senior finance ministry official. The law will pave the way for roll out of GST from July 1. 08TH FEBRUARY, 2017, BUSINESS STANDARD, NEW-DELHI