SFT Format and Guidelines for Depository Transactions

DGIT(S)/ADG(S)-2/Reporting Portal/2021/180

Government of India Ministry of Finance Central Board of Direct Taxes Directorate of Income Tax (Systems)

Notification No. 3 of 2021 New Delhi, 30th April, 2021

Format, Procedure and Guidelines for submission of Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT) for Depository Transactions

Section 285BA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and Rule 114E requires specified reporting persons to furnish statement of financial transaction (SFT). 2. For the purposes of pre-filling the return of income, CBDT has issued Notification No. 16/2021 dated 12.03.2021 to include reporting of information relating to Capital gains on transfer of listed securities or units of Mutual Funds. The new sub rule 5A of rule 114E specifies that the information shall be furnished in such form, at such frequency, and in such manner, as may be specified by the Director General of Income Tax (Systems), with the approval of the Board. 3. The guidelines for preparation and submission of Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT) information are enclosed in Annexure A and Annexure B respectively. The format of control statement to be submitted by the Designated Director is given in Annexure C. The data structure and validation rules are enclosed in Annexure D and Annexure E respectively. Notification No. 3 of 2018 dated 05.04.2018 may be referred for the procedure for registration. 4. All Depositories as defined in clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Depositories Act, 1996(22 of 1996) are required to prepare the data file in prescribed format from their internal system. Reporting entities are required to submit the data files using SFTP Server using the login credentials (To be communicated separately). 5. A separate control statement (refer annexure C) is required to be signed, verified and furnished by the Designated Director. 6. The statement of financial transactions relating to Financial Year 2020-21 shall be furnished on or before the 31st May 2021. Thereafter, the statement of financial transactions relating to the quarter ending 30th June, 31st September, 31st December and 31st March shall be furnished on or before 25th of July, October, January and April respectively. 7. The reporting entities are also required to provide information reported to Income Tax Department, to the account holder which will enable taxpayers to reconcile the information displayed in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) (Form 26AS).

8. In case, the reporting person/entity comes to know or discovers any inaccuracy in the information provided in the statement or the defects have been communicated to the reporting person/entity, it is required to remove the defects by submitting a correction/deletion statement.
9. The reporting person/entity is required to document and implement appropriate information security policies and procedures with clearly defined roles and responsibilities to ensure security of submitted information and related information/documents. The reporting person/entity is also required to document and implement appropriate archival and retrieval policies and procedures with clearly defined roles and responsibilities to ensure that submitted information and related information/documents are available promptly to the competent authorities.
10. This issues with the approval of CBDT. This Notification shall come into effect from the date of issue.

Copy to:

1. PPS to the Chairman and Members, CBDT, North Block, New Delhi.
2. All Pr. Chief Commissioners/ Pr. Director Generals of Income Tax and all Chief Commissioners/ Director Generals of Income Tax — with a request to circulate amongst all officers in their regions/ charges.
3. JS (TPL)-I &2/ Media coordination and Official spokesperson of CBDT
4. DIT (IT)/ DIT (Audit)/ DIT (Vig.)/ ADG (System) 1, 2, 3, 4, / CIT (CPC) Bangalore, CIT (CPC- TDS) Ghaziabad.
5. ADG (PR, PP&OL) with a request for advertisement campaign for the Notification.
6. TPL and ITA Divisions of CBDT.
7. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, IP Estate, New Delhi.
8. Web Manager, "incometaxindia.gov.in" for hosting on the website.
9. Database cell for uploading on www.irsofficersonline.gov.in and in DGIT (S) Corner.
10. ITBA publisher for uploading on [TBA portal.

Annexure A Guidelines for Preparation of Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT) The guidelines for preparation of Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT) for Depository transactions are as under:

1. The Depository transaction summary file will be used for pre-filling the gain/income/loss from securities transactions. The Depository Transaction Summary is required to be prepared for user-initiated debit transactions in the demat account. For Off Market debits, information need not be provided if transferor and transferee are same person.
2. In case of a minor, details of legal or natural guardian (PAN, Name etc.) may be provided.
3. The Estimated Sale Consideration for the debit transaction should be determined on the best possible available price of the asset with the depository (e.g. end of day price). The taxpayer will be able to modify the sales consideration before filing the return.
4. The securities should be classified into specified security class for determining the type of asset (short term/long term) and applicable rate.
5. The period of holding (difference between date of sale and date of acquisition of any share/security in the demat account) should be used to classify the asset as short term or long-term asset. First in First out (FIFO) method should be used for identification of corresponding credit in demat account and computation of period of holding. Any capital asset held by the taxpayer for a period of more than minimum period of holding will be treated as long-term capital asset and remaining assets will be classified as short-term asset. The specified minimum period of holding for different asset class is as under:

6. For every debit transaction, the corresponding credit transaction should be identified using First in First Out (FIFO) method. The estimated cost of acquisition for the credit should be determined on the best possible available price with the depository. The cost of acquisition can be estimated as per the closing rate on the date (T-2) of transaction for market purchase. The estimated cost of acquisition is to be taken as NIL for OFF Market purchase, IPO or Corporate Action or for any transaction through other than Exchange. The taxpayer will be able to modify the cost of acquisition before filing the return.
7. In relation to a long-term capital asset, being an equity share in a company or a unit of an equity-oriented fund acquired before the 1st day of February, 2018, adjusted cost of acquisition shall be higher of (i) the cost of acquisition of such asset; and (ii) lower of (A) the fair market value of such asset as on 31st January, 2018; and (B) the full value of consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset. In a case where the capital asset is listed on any recognized stock exchange as on the 31st day of January, 2018, "fair market value" means the highest price of the capital asset quoted on such exchange on the said date. If there is no trading in such asset on such exchange on the 31st day of January, 2018, the highest price of such asset on such exchange on a date immediately preceding the 31st day of January, 2018 when such asset was traded on such exchange shall be the fair market value. In case the cost of acquisition of asset acquired before the 1st day of February, 2018 is not easily available, the adjusted cost of acquisition may be taken as lower of (A) the fair market value of such asset; and (B) the full value of consideration.
8. The Cost Inflation Index should be used to determine estimated indexed cost of acquisition wherever applicable.
9. The details of demat account holders and summary values for the demat account for the reporting period should be reported in Depository Account Summary (DEP_ACC_SUMM.TXT).
10. The details of off-market transactions recorded by the depository during the year should be reported in Depository Off-Market Transactions (DEP_OFF_TRN.TXT).

Annexure B Guidelines for Submission of Statement of Financial Transactions (SFT)

1. Reporting entities are required to prepare the data file in prescribed format from their internal system. Reporting entities are required to submit the data files using SFTP Server using the login credentials (To be communicated separately). A separate control statement (refer Annexure C) is required to be signed, verified and furnished by the Designated Director.
2. Any file which does not meet the validation requirements will be rejected.
3. In case Reporting Entity needs to modify uploaded data, Correction Statement is required to be filed. In the Correction Statement, only those records should be uploaded in which correction is required. In case Reporting Entity needs to delete uploaded data, Deletion request is required to be filed.