Its Official Now, SBNs (Old 1000 and 500 Notes) are Banned from 1 Jan 2017

· Ordinance Withdraws Government Guarantee on SBN from 1 Jan 2017

· RBI Denied Legal Tender Status from 8 Nov 2016

· SBN Holders Liable to Fine (of Higher) of 5 times the Value or Rs. 10K

The Ordinance is a follow-up to the decision taken by the Government of India to cancel the legal tender character of the existing series of banknotes, as on November 8, 2016, in the denominations of Rs.500 and Rs.1000 (Specified Bank Notes-SBNs) in circulation.

The main objectives of the Ordinance are (i) to provide clarity and finality to the liability of the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India for the SBNs; (ii) to provide an opportunity to those persons who were unable to deposit the SBNs within the time provided; and (iii) to declare holding, transferring or receiving SBNs as illegal, with provisions for penalty for contravention of any of the provisions of the Ordinance.

This decision follows a number of steps taken to tackle “unaccounted money” in the economy including setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT); enacting a law regarding undisclosed foreign income and assets; amending the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements between India and Mauritius and India and Cyprus; reaching an understanding with Switzerland for getting information on Bank accounts held by Indians with HSBC; encouraging the use of non-cash and digital payments; amendments to the Benami Transactions Act; and implementation of the Income Declaration Scheme 2016.

According to a Press Note issued by Finance Ministry, as on 30th December, 2016 a part of the Specified Bank Notes (SBN) have come back to the Reserve Bank of India and these are now a part of the formal financial system, increasing the deposit base of the banks and improving their ability to lend. (It is said that more the 14 lakh crores of SBNs are back with Reserve Bank, which makes the returns almost equal to the 15 lakh crores said to be the total issue size of SBNs).

Only Indian citizens who were outside India from 9th November, 2016 to 30th December, 2016 are now allowed to tender these SBNs at the specified Issue Offices of RBI until 31st March, 2017. Citizens of India who are not resident in India, this facility would be available till June 30, 2017. All other holders of SBNs are liable to fine of five times the holding. The promise of the Government to honour SBNs till 31 March at RBI offices has not been report.

The facility for NRIs and Travellers would be subject to the regulations of the notification “Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations, 2015. As per these Regulations bringing back such currency into the country is restricted to Rs.25,000/- per person. Separate FEMA provisions are applicable to persons in Nepal and Bhutan.

At the time of return to India, the number and denominations of the SBN will need to be declared to the Customs authorities at the airports and other entry points. Necessary form for such declaration will be given out by the CBEC.

The details of the declaration and statements that are required to be submitted along with the SBNs at the time of deposit in RBI Issue Offices will be separately announced by RBI. Any false declaration will invite a fine of Rs. 50,000 or five times the amount of the face value of the SBN tendered, whichever is higher.

After the period of exchange is over, the liabilities of the Reserve Bank and the guarantee of the Central Government towards the Specified Bank Notes will stand extinguished. Further, the official note says “to prevent any continued parallel transactions with the SBNs by unscrupulous elements” after this period, holding, transferring and receiving SBNs will attract a fine of Rs.10,000 or five times the amount of the face value of the SBN involved in the contravention, whichever is higher.

[Click here for Full text Ordinance]