{"id":2457,"date":"2016-03-23T15:12:19","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T09:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itatonline.org\/articles_new\/?p=2457"},"modified":"2016-03-23T15:12:19","modified_gmt":"2016-03-23T09:42:19","slug":"rationalisation-of-penalty-provisions-under-the-income-tax-act-1961-as-per-the-finance-bill-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/rationalisation-of-penalty-provisions-under-the-income-tax-act-1961-as-per-the-finance-bill-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Rationalisation  Of Penalty Provisions Under The Income-tax Act 1961 As Per The Finance Bill, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/k_c_singhal.jpg\" alt=\"k_c_singhal\" width=\"83\" height=\"100\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-542\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Finance Bill 2016 proposes to make radical changes to the law relating to levy of penalty for concealment of income and furnishing of inaccurate particulars. Sections 270A and 270AA, which are intended to substitute section 271(1)(c), propose a levy of penalty for &#8220;<em>under reporting of income<\/em>&#8221; and &#8220;<em>misreporting of income<\/em>&#8220;. Shri. K. C. Singhal, former Vice President of the ITAT, has carefully analyzed the implications of the proposed amendments and explained the same with utmost clarity and with reference to practical examples <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The levy of  penalty for concealment or furnishing of inaccurate particulars of income under  the existing provisions of Section 271(1)(c) of Income-tax Act 1961 has always  been a matter of litigation between the revenue authorities and the taxpayers. The discretion regarding quantum of penalty led to corruption. The scope of  such provisions was always a subject matter of litigation since tax authorities  always levied the penalty whenever there was an addition or disallowance made  by the assessing officer, may be because of pressure of higher authorities, even in cases where there was no <em>prima facie <\/em>case against the taxpayer.  With a view to reduce the litigation and remove the discretion of tax  authority, the Finance Bill, 2016 has proposed the insertion of new provisions  in the form of new Sections 270A and 270AA in the Act which will replace the existing  provisions of section 271(1)(c). The salient features of the new provisions are  discussed below.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>At the outset, it is clarified that the new  provisions of sections 270A and 270AA will <u>apply  to cases pertaining to A.Yrs. 2017-18 <\/u>onwards and existing provisions of  section 271(1)(c) will continue to be applicable to all cases up to A.Yrs.  2016-17 which is apparent from the proposed insertion of sub-section 7 in  section 271. Further, <u>the proposed scheme will  not be applicable to cases where assessment is made in pursuance of search u\/s  132<\/u> in view of clause (e) of sub section (6) of Section 270A and  consequently, in such cases, the penalty would be levied under the existing  provisions of Section 271. It may also be noted that assessment made u\/s. 153C  is outside the scope of Section 271AAB and therefore in such cases, the penalty  would, henceforth, be levied as per the new scheme.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Let us, first, have a look at the bare provisions  of the scheme<\/p>\n<p>\n  Under the new scheme, the penalty matters are <u>categorised in two parts <\/u>&mdash; (1) under reporting  of income and (2) misreporting of income. Under reported income has been  defined in S. 270A(2) which is to be read with sub-section (6) while <u>misreporting of income<\/u> is defined in sub  sections (8) &amp; (9) of this section. <u>With a  view to remove the discretion of the Assessing Officer, it is proposed to  impose fixed % of the amount of penalty under the new scheme.<\/u> Hence,  penalty for under reported income will be @ fixed rate of <strong>50% of the tax  payable on unreported income while it will be @ 200% of the tax payable on the  misreported income<\/strong> as against 100% to 300% of concealed income under the  existing provisions of section 271. This is a welcome step in the proposed  legislation.<\/p>\n<p>\n  The <strong>under-reported income<\/strong> has been defined  in sub-section (2) section 270A. According to this provision, a person shall be  considered to have unreported his income where&#8211;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) The  assessed income is greater than the income processed u\/s 143(1)(a);<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) The  income assessed is greater than the maximum amount not chargeable to tax, where  no return is filed by the assessee;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (c) Where  the income reassessed is greater than the income assessed or reassessed  immediately before such assessment;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (d) Where  the deemed total income assessed or reassessed as per the provisions of  Sections 115JB\/115JC is greater than the deemed total income determined u\/s. 143(1)(a);<\/p>\n<p>\n  (e) Where  the deemed total income assessed under the provisions of sections 115JB\/115JC  is greater than the maximum amount not chargeable to tax, where no return is  filed by the assessee;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (f) Where  the income assessed or reassessed has the effect of reducing the loss or  converting such loss into income.<\/p>\n<p>\n  However, in order <strong>to avoid litigation<\/strong> between the tax authorities and the taxpayers, the proposed Bill also <u>provides for exclusion of certain amounts<\/u> from  the scope of the expression &ldquo;Unreported income&rdquo;. Such exclusions are enumerated  in sub-section (6) which are narrated below&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) The  additions or disallowances in respect of which assessee offers a <em>bona fide<\/em> explanation to the satisfaction of the tax authority and proves that he had  disclosed all material facts to substantiate the explanation;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) The  additions or disallowances determined on estimate basis, if the accounts  maintained by assessee are correct and complete to the satisfaction of tax  authority but the method employed is such that the income cannot properly be  deduced there from;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (c) The additions or disallowances determined  on estimate basis, where the assessee had, <em>suo motu<\/em>, made a lower amount  of disallowance on the same issue in computation of income but had disclosed  all material facts in respect of such additions or disallowances;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (d) The amount of addition made in conformity  of arm&rsquo;s length price determined by TPO if the assessee had maintained information  and documents as prescribed u\/s. 92D and declared the international  transactions and disclosed all material facts relating to such transactions;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (e) The amount of undisclosed income referred  to in section 271AAB.<\/p>\n<p>\n  The <strong><u>computation<\/u><\/strong><u> of unreported income<\/u> is provided in sub  section (3) in two parts. <strong>First part<\/strong> refers to the situation where the  income is <u>being assessed for the first time<\/u> either u\/s 143 or 147&#8212; <strong>(a)<\/strong> where the return is furnished, the  unreported income will be the difference between the amount of income assessed  and the amount of income determined u\/s. 143(1)(a);<strong> (b) <\/strong>where no return  is filed by the assessee, (i) in case of company, firm and local authority, it  will be the entire income assessed and (ii) in case of other entities, it will  be the difference between the income assessed and the maximum amount not  chargeable to tax. <strong>Second part<\/strong> refers to the situation other than the  one mentioned above. In such cases, it will be the difference between the  amount of income reassessed and the amount of income assessed, reassessed or  recomputed in <strong>a preceding order<\/strong>. Further, a proviso is added to such  provisions which provides a formula for determining the unreported income where  the income is assessed as per deeming provisions of sections 115JB\/115JC.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Where, as a result of the assessment or  reassessment, <strong>the loss<\/strong> returned by the assessee is <u>reduced or converted into positive income<\/u>, the unreported income  will be the difference between the loss claimed and the income or loss as the  case may be assessed or reassessed. <\/p>\n<p>\n  The <strong>expression &ldquo;a preceding order&rdquo; <\/strong>referred  to earlier is explained to mean an order during the course of which penalty  proceedings had been initiated. <\/p>\n<p>\n  <strong>Misreporting  of income<\/strong> has been  defined in sub-sections (8)&amp;(9) of section 270A. Combined reading of these  sub sections reveals that misreporting of income will be where under-reported  income is because of following circumstances&#8212;- <\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) Misrepresentation  or suppression of facts;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) Failure  to record investments in the books of account;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (c) Claim  of expenditure not substantiated by any evidence;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (d) Recording  of false entry in the books of account;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (e) Failure  to record any receipt in the books of account having a bearing on the total  income;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (f) Failure  to report any international transaction or deemed international transaction or  any specified domestic transaction to which provisions of chapter X applies.<\/p>\n<p>\n  For the purpose of levy of penalty, the <strong>amount  of tax payable<\/strong> on under reported income as per sub-section (10) shall be  computed as under &ndash;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) Tax  payable on such income as if it were the total income in case of company, firm  or local authority; and<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) At  the rate of 30% of under-reported income, in any other case.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Sub-section (12) provides that such penalty shall  be imposed by the tax authority by an order in writing.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Immunity from penalty and  prosecution<\/p>\n<p>\n  Before  analysing the entire scheme, it would be appropriate to refer to the provisions  of section 270AA which provides for immunity from levy of penalty u\/s. 270A and  prosecution u\/s. 276C. According to this scheme, an assessee shall be granted  such immunity <u>if following conditions are  satisfied<\/u>&#8211;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) Tax and interest payable as specified in  the notice of demand in pursuance of order of assessment or reassessment has  been paid <u>within the time specified<\/u> in such  notice of demand; and<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) <u>No appeal<\/u> is filed against the order of assessment or reassessment.<\/p>\n<p>\n  The <strong>procedure<\/strong> specified is simple which states that assessee is required to file an  application in the prescribed form within one month from the end of the month  in which such order of assessment or reassessment is received by the assessee.  The Assessing Officer, if conditions fulfilled, shall grant immunity from  imposition of penalty u\/s. 270A and prosecution u\/s. 276C provided the penalty  is not initiated under the circumstances mentioned in sub section (9). The A.O.  shall pass an order within one month from the end of the month in which such  application is received.<\/p>\n<p>\n  <u>In other words, such immunity is not available<\/u> where either (i) penalty is initiated  in respect of misreporting of income, or (ii) tax and interest as per demand  notice is not paid within the time specified in the demand notice, or (iii)  application is not made in the prescribed form within one month from the end of  the month in which order of assessment or reassessment is received by the  assessee.<\/p>\n<p>\n  If the A.O.  decides to reject the application, he shall give an opportunity to the assessee  of being heard before rejection. <\/p>\n<p>\n  Analysis <\/p>\n<p>\n  Let me, first,  point out the <strong>distinction and similarity<\/strong> between the existing provisions  and the new scheme&#8211;<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Under the <strong>existing provisions,<\/strong> the tax authority has to <strong>record his satisfaction<\/strong> in the assessment  proceeding to the effect that assessee had concealed the particulars of income  or furnished inaccurate particulars of income. Failure to record such  satisfaction rendered the penalty order as nullity. <strong>Under the new scheme, <\/strong><u>there is no such statutory requirement<\/u>. Mere  initiation of penal proceeding would be sufficient which may be by issuing  direction in the order or by issue of penalty notice.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Under the <strong>existing provisions, <\/strong><u>the tax authority has to prove the fact<\/u> that  assessee has concealed the particulars of income or furnished the inaccurate  particulars of income. <strong>Under the new scheme,<\/strong> <u>there is no such requirement in case of under reporting of income<\/u> since difference between the assessed income and income determined u\/s.  143(1)(a) is presumed to be under-reporting of income or difference between the  assessed income and maximum amount not chargeable to tax, where no return is  filed by the assessee. However, in case of <strong>misreporting of income<\/strong>, the <u>tax authority will have to prove or demonstrate<\/u> that case of assessee falls within the criteria mentioned in sub- Section(9).  Further discussion is made at a later stage.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Under the <strong>existing provisions<\/strong>,  there is a discretion with the AO to impose penalty between 100% to 300% of the  tax but <strong>under the new scheme<\/strong>, <u>the AO has  no such discretion<\/u>. He is required to impose penalty at flat rate of 50% of  tax payable on unreported income and 200% of tax payable on misreported income. <\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Under the existing as well as new  scheme, no penalty order can be passed without giving an <u>opportunity of being heard<\/u> in view of the provisions of Section 274.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; The <strong>limitation period<\/strong> specified  in section 275 will apply to order passed under both the scheme.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; The<strong> right to appeal<\/strong> is  available under Section 246A under both the scheme. Though there appears to be  an inadvertent mistake in not making specific amendment in Section 246A but  hopefully will be there in the said section. <em><u>It  may be pointed out that the existing clause (q) of Section 246A permits the  right to appeal against any penalty order passed under any section falling  under chapter XXI.<\/u><\/em> Since penalty orders under the new provisions falls  under chapter XXI, right to appeal is not lost even if no specific amendment is  made in section 246A.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Whether penalty proceedings can be initiated after  completion of assessment proceedings?<\/p>\n<p>\n  <u>In my view, the answer is NO for the reason given  hereafter<\/u>. <\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Though there is no specific provisions  to this effect, <u>the inference <\/u>can be drawn  from the Explanation below sub section(3) which refers to initiation of penalty  under sub section(1) of section 270A.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Since for availing the immunity u\/s  270AA, the assessee is required to make an application within 30 days from the  end of month in which the order of assessment is received, he must be aware  from such order that penalty proceeding u\/s 270A has been initiated or not.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Further,  immunity u\/s 270AA is available only in case of under reporting of income.  Hence, A.O must demonstrate whether penalty is initiated for under reporting of  income or misreporting of income. This can be done only through initiating the same  in the assessment order or by issuing the notice.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; Section  274 provides that no order of penalty can be passed without providing an  opportunity of being heard to the assessee.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; <strong>Last  but the most important<\/strong> reason is that section 275 provides the period of  limitation. According to section 275(1)(c), no penalty order can be passed  after the expiry of financial year in which the proceedings, <u>in the course of which action for imposition for  penalty has been initiated,<\/u> are completed, OR 6 months from the end of the  month in which action for imposition of penalty is initiated, whichever is  later. Similar language is there in S, 275(1)(a). <em><u>So, unless the penalty proceedings are initiated in the course of  assessment proceedings, the period of limitation cannot be worked out.<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\n  It is the <strong>settled view<\/strong> that provisions  should be interpreted in such a manner which makes the provisions workable  rather than to frustrate. Therefore, in view of the reasons given above, it is <strong>opined<\/strong> that penalty proceedings must be initiated in the course of assessment  proceedings itself.<\/p>\n<p>\n  How to compute the under reported income? <\/p>\n<p>\n  Though  sub-section (2) defines the scope of the expression &ldquo;under reported income&rdquo;,  sub section (3) provides the procedure for computing such income. It is explained  as under &ndash;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) Where the income has been assessed for  the first time in response to the return filed, it will mean the difference  between the amount of income assessed and the amount of income determined u\/s.  143(1)(a). Such assessment may be u\/s. 143(3) or u\/s. 147. <u>Thus, under reported income would not include the amount of adjustment  made in determining the income u\/s. 143(1)(a)<\/u>. <strong>For example<\/strong>, assessee  files a return declaring income of &#8360; 10 lakhs but income is determined at &#8360; 12  lakhs u\/s 143(1)(a) and income is assessed at &#8360; 13  lakhs u\/s. 143(3)\/147. In such case under reported income would be &#8360; 1  lakh and not &#8360; 3 lakh.<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) Where <u>no  return<\/u> is filed by the assessee, the computation is in two parts i.e. (i)  where the assessee is a <u>company, firm or local  authority<\/u>, it will mean the <u>entire amount  of income assessed<\/u> and (ii) in case of <u>other  assessees<\/u>, it will mean the difference between the amount of income  assessed and the maximum amount not chargeable to tax. <\/p>\n<p>\n  (c) Where the income is assessed as a result  of reassessment or re-computation (not being assessed for the first time), it  will mean the <strong>difference<\/strong> between the amount of income re-assessed or  re-computed and the amount of income assessed, re-assessed or re-computed in a  preceding order. The <u>preceding order has been  defined<\/u> as the order passed immediately preceding the order during the  course of which penalty proceeding is initiated. Such preceding order may be as  a result of assessment made u\/s. 143 or 147 or as a result of directions of  appellate\/revisionary authority or Tribunal or Court as the case may be.<\/p>\n<p>\n  (d) Where the income is assessed by way of  deemed assessment u\/s. 115JB\/115JC, it will mean the amount determined as per  the formula given in the proviso to sub-section 3(ii) of Section 270A. This  formula is similar to formula provided in the existing provisions of  Explanation 4 to section 271(1)(c).<\/p>\n<p>\n  (e) Where as a result of  assessment\/reassessment, the loss is reduced or loss is converted into income,  it will mean the <strong>difference<\/strong> between the amount of loss claimed by the  assessee and the income or loss assessed or reassessed. For example, where  returned loss is 15 lakhs assessed income is 5 lakhs, the unreported income  will be 20 lakhs. <\/p>\n<p>\n  <u>However, under reported income shall not include  the amount of income referred to in sub- section (6) of this section<\/u>.<\/p>\n<p>\n  What is the  scope of sub section (6)? <\/p>\n<p>\n  This is an  important aspect which needs to be elaborated. This sub section encompasses the  circumstances where penalty in respect of under reporting of income cannot be  levied. <u>The income relatable to such  circumstances shall be excluded from the computation of unreported income<\/u>.  Thus, it will reduce the litigation between the taxpayer and the revenue  authorities. Such circumstances are discussed below&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>\n  (a) <strong>First  situation<\/strong> is where any addition or disallowance is made by the A.O. but the  assessee has offered an explanation which is bona fide to the satisfaction of  tax authority AND has disclosed all the material facts to substantiate the  explanation. <strong>For example<\/strong>, take a case of cash credit. If the assessee  has furnished all material facts i.e. name and address of the creditor, his  PAN, copy of ITR, ward where he is assessed, confirmation from creditor, copies  of bank statement etc but the addition is made simply because the creditor  could not be produced or not responded in response to summons. As per the  judicial opinions, it cannot be said that explanation of assessee was not bona  fide. Hence, it will not constitute under reporting of income since all material  facts are disclosed. <em><u>However, some  litigation cannot be ruled out as the A.O may not be satisfied with the  explanation of the assessee and in such cases the Appellate Authority\/Tribunal  is likely to accept the case of assessee in view of the settled legal position<\/u><\/em>.  There are various other situations which may fall under this category but all  such cases cannot be discussed at this stage. It may be pointed out that this  clause, being general one, will be applicable to any kind of addition or  disallowance made by AO. Whether a case would fall under this category or not  would depend on the facts of each case.<\/p>\n<p>\n  (b) <strong>Second  situation is<\/strong> where the accounts of the assessee are correct and complete as  per the accounting system but the method employed is such that income cannot  properly be deduced there from and as a result thereof the addition is made on  estimate basis. <strong>For example,<\/strong> GP rate is enhanced on estimate basis  merely on the ground that it is lower than other assessees in the same trade or  because of non maintenance of stock register etc. Such addition shall not be  considered in computing the unreported income.<\/p>\n<p>\n   <strong>However,<\/strong> this category would not include where books of account are rejected on the  ground that the same are not correct and complete to the satisfaction of A.O. <strong>For  example,<\/strong> non-recording of purchase\/sale; bogus purchases; under-recording  of closing stock, manipulation in entries etc. In such cases, penalty can be  levied.<\/p>\n<p>\n  (c) <strong>Third situation is<\/strong> where some  disallowance is made by the assessee of his own but the A.O enhances the same  on estimate basis provided all material facts are disclosed by the assessee. <strong>For  example,<\/strong> some disallowance is made by the assessee u\/s. 14A but the A.O,  not being satisfied, enhances the same even though all material facts are  disclosed by the assessee. In such cases, it will not amount to under reported  income. <\/p>\n<p>\n  (d) <strong>Fourth  situation is <\/strong>where the assessee had maintained information and documents  prescribed under section 92D, disclosed the international transactions under  chapter X and also disclosed all material facts relating to such transactions  but addition is made in conformity with the arm&rsquo;s length price determined by  TPO. Thus merely because addition is made on the basis of TPO&rsquo;s order, it will  not amount to under reported income. This will really reduce the litigation.<\/p>\n<p>\n  (e) <strong>The  last situation is<\/strong> where penalty is leviable u\/s. 271AAB. S.271AAB applies  where additions are made in case of a person in whose case search is initiated  u\/s. 132. <\/p>\n<p>\n  Scope of the expression &ldquo;misreporting of income&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>\n  &ldquo;Misreporting of income&rdquo; is considered to be more  stringent as compared to &ldquo;under-reported income&rdquo; since penalty in case of  misreporting of income is to be imposed @ 200% of the tax payable as against  50% in case of under -reported income. It is to be noted that it is not an  independent expression. A combined reading of sub-sections (8) &amp; (9) shows  that it is the under-reported income which is to be treated as misreporting of  income if under-reported income is in consequence of items specified under  subsection (9). So, firstly, under-reported income is to be computed and then  A.O has to give a finding that such under-reported income is in consequence of  the items specified under sub section (9). <u>So,  if any addition or disallowance does not fall within the scope of  &ldquo;under-reported income&rdquo; then question of treating the same as misreporting of  income does not arise<\/u>.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Thus, in my  opinion, the <strong>onus<\/strong> is on the revenue to prove that under reported income  is in consequence of the circumstances mentioned in sub section (9). Let us  have a look at these items&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; The <strong>first item<\/strong> in sub-section  (9) is misrepresentation or suppression of fact which involves the element of <em>mens  rea<\/em> i.e. the guilty mind on the part of assessee. This aspect will always  be a subject matter of litigation.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; The <strong>second item <\/strong>is failure to  record investment in the books of account while the<strong> fifth item<\/strong> refers to  failure to record receipt in the books of account which has a bearing on the  total income. Such facts can be proved by A.O just by referring to books of  account of the assessee. But there may be cases where assessee does not make  books of account even though such receipts are revenue receipts. For example,  assessees falling u\/s. 44AD or 44ADA are not required to maintain books of  account. In such cases, this sub section would become inapplicable.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; <strong>Fourth item<\/strong> refers to recording  of false entry in books of account. The word &lsquo;false&rsquo; also involves <em>mens rea<\/em> on the part of assessee. Hence, onus will be on revenue to prove the <em>mens  rea<\/em> on the part of assessee. <\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; <strong>The second item <\/strong>in the list  refers to claim of assessee regarding expenditure not substantiated by any  evidence. The word &lsquo;<strong>any<\/strong>&rsquo; is important which can be read as <strong>no  evidence<\/strong>. So, where evidence has been filed by the assessee, it will not be  a case of misreporting of income merely because it is not believed by the tax  authority. This aspect of the matter shall be a matter of litigation.<\/p>\n<p>\n  &bull; <strong>The sixth and last item<\/strong> is  failure to report international transaction or specified domestic transaction.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">\n<p>\nHow the penalty  is to be computed?<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">\n<p>\n  As already  stated, sub-section (7) provides that penalty shall be computed @ 50% of the  tax payable on under reported income AND 200% of tax payable in case of under  reported income falling under sub-section (9) i.e. misreported income. Tax  payable is to be computed as per the provisions of sub-section (10) of section  270A i.e. 30% of the under-reported income and not as per normal rate as per  finance Act so far as assessees (other than company, firm and local authority)  are concerned. In case of co., firm or local authority, it will be tax as if  the under reported income would have been the total income. <strong>For example<\/strong>,  an individual declaring income of &#8360; 5 lakhs is assessed at &#8360; 7  lakhs. In such case, under reported income would be &#8360; 2  lakhs on which tax payable would be &#8360; 60,000\/-(30%) and <strong>penalty<\/strong> would  be &#8360; 30,000\/-and if such income falls under subsection  (9) then penalty would be &#8360; 1,20,000\/-. However, if such assessee  had not filed the return at all for any reason then, under reported income will  amount to &#8360; 4.5 lakhs (Rs. 7  lakhs &ndash; &#8360; lakhs) on which tax payable would be &#8360; 1,35,000\/-(30%)  on which penalty would be &#8360; 67,500\/-and if such income falls under  subsection (9) then penalty would be &#8360; 2,70,000\/-.<\/p>\n<p>\n  <strong>In my  opinion<\/strong>, the  provisions are too harsh and drastic in those cases where an assessee fails to  file the return for<em> bona fide <\/em>reasons beyond his control. <strong>For example<\/strong>,  a firm earned income of Rs. 50 lakhs during a year in respect of  which TDS and advance tax are fully paid as per law. However, it fails to file  the return due to <em>bona fide<\/em> unavoidable circumstances. The assessment is  completed assessing the income at Rs. 52 lakhs even u\/s. 144. In such case,  the entire amount of Rs. 52 lakhs will be treated as under  reported income as per sub section (3). The tax payable on such assessed income  will be Rs. 15.60 lakhs on which penalty of Rs. 7.8  lakhs will be imposed even though the entire tax is already paid. On the  contrary, had it filed the return, the under reported income would only be Rs. 2  lakhs on which tax payable would be Rs. 60,000\/-only and penalty would be only Rs. 30,000\/-.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Let us also take a case of an <u>individual contractor<\/u> whose total gross receipt is Rs. 1.5  crs on which tax is deducted u\/s 194C which comes to Rs. 1.5  lakhs but fails to file the return for some <em>bona fide<\/em> unavoidable  circumstances. The income is finally assessed at Rs. 15  lakhs <\/p>\n<p>\n  ( &#8360; 12 lakhs u\/s. 44AD + &#8360; 3  lakhs u\/s. 69). The under reported income would be &#8360;  12.5 lakhs (&#8360; 15 lakhs &ndash; &#8360; 2.5  lakhs) on which tax payable would be &#8360; 3.75 lakhs (being 30%) and  consequently, penalty amount would be &#8360; 1,87,500\/-. Had he filed the return  declaring income of &#8360; 12 lakhs u\/s 44AD, the under reported  income would have been &#8360; 3 lakhs only on which tax payable would  have been only &#8360; 90,000\/- and penalty of &#8360; 45,000\/-  only.<\/p>\n<p>\n  It appears that penalty, in such cases, is mainly  for late filing of return rather than for under reported income. <strong>In my  opinion, suitable amendment needs to be made in this behalf.<\/strong> <u>In order to avoid hardship, the only option with  the assessee is avail the immunity by paying tax and interest in accordance  with the provisions of section 270AA<\/u>.<\/p>\n<p>\n  Amendment in  section 271AA<\/p>\n<p>\n  Sub section (2) has been inserted in this section.  According to this amendment, if there is failure to furnish information and the  document as required u\/s. 92D(4) on the part of assessee then it shall be  liable to pay penalty of &#8360; 5 lakh. <\/p>\n<p>\n  So, the assessee has to be very careful in this regard.<\/p>\n<p>\n  <strong>Section 271AAB<\/strong> has also been amended which is applicable to  search cases. According to the proposed amendment, the penalty leviable shall  be fixed % i.e. 60% of the undisclosed income. thus the A.O. shall have no  discretion.<\/p>\n<p \/>\n<p>Hope, the readers would be benefitted  by the above write-up.<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\" border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"5\" cellspacing=\"0\" bgcolor=\"#FFFFCC\">\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Disclaimer: <\/strong>The  contents of this document are solely for informational purpose. It does not  constitute professional advice or a formal recommendation. While due care has  been taken in preparing this document, the existence of mistakes and omissions  herein is not ruled out. Neither the author nor itatonline.org and its  affiliates accepts any liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising  out of any inaccurate or incomplete information in this document nor for any  actions taken in reliance thereon. No part of this document should be  distributed or copied (except for personal, non-commercial use) without  express written permission of itatonline.org<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"journal2\">Reproduced with permission from the AIFTP Journal<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Finance Bill 2016 proposes to make radical changes to the law relating to levy of penalty for concealment of income and furnishing of inaccurate particulars. Sections 270A and 270AA, which are intended to substitute section 271(1)(c), propose a levy &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/rationalisation-of-penalty-provisions-under-the-income-tax-act-1961-as-per-the-finance-bill-2016\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Rationalisation  Of Penalty Provisions Under The Income-tax Act 1961 As Per The Finance Bill, 2016<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/articles_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}