COVID-19 Latest News Today: IMPORTANT! PAN or Aadhaar compulsory for paying hospital bills above THIS AMOUNT - check all details here

COVID-19 Latest News Today: The second wave of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had various adverse effects on the country. Amidst this pandemic situation, there is some very important news for those who are making cash transactions for paying hospital bills. If one pays more than Rs 2 lakh in cash for hospital bills, one has to provide either PAN or Aadhaar number.

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The Income Tax Department announced that now a hospital bill of up to Rs 2 lakh can be deposited through cash as per a report by dnaindia.com. However, in case one pays more than Rs 2 lakh, one has to provide either the PAN number or the Aadhaar number.

The IT department through a tweet has informed that the provisions of section 269ST of IT-Act have been relaxed to allow cash payments of more than Rs. 2 lakh to hospitals for COVID treatment if the PAN or Aadhaar of the payer is provided. The tweet by the Income Tax Department reads, "CBDT has acted to facilitate patients during this pandemic. Provisions of section 269ST of ITAct have been relaxed to allow cash payments of more than Rs. 2 lakh to hospitals for Covid treatment if the PAN or Aadhaar of the payer is provided."

Unlike, as alleged in the report, CBDT has acted to facilitate patients during this pandemic. Provisions of section 269ST of ITAct have been relaxed to allow cash payments of more than Rs. 2 lakh to hospitals for Covid treatment if the PAN or Aadhaar of the payer is provided(3/3)

— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) May 11, 2021

It has to be noted that the department was referring to a new report that claimed that the Ministry of Finance has instructed the IT officers to put a check on the hospitals and the nursing homes that are accepting cash payments for COVID-19 treatment. The IT department denied any such order and clarified the fact that the finance ministry has not issued any such orders in this regard. The IT department in its tweet mentioned, "The Finance Ministry has not issued any directive to CBDT in this regard. Further, unlike as reported, the CBDT has not come out with any Circular where hospitals need to disclose the cash, they receive to the IT Department."

Speaking of the COVID-19 cases of the country, the Union Health Ministry has informed that India has witnessed 3,62,727 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Also, 3,52,181 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours.