CBDT Circular Relaxes Time Limit For Filing Applications U/s 279 For Compounding Of Offenses

The CBDT has vide Circular No. 25/2019 dated 09.09.2019 relaxed, as a one-time measure, the time limit for filing compounding applications. The relaxation has been granted with a view to mitigate unintended hardship to taxpayers in deserving cases and to reduce the pendency of existing prosecution cases before the courts

Circular No. 25/2019
F.No.285/0812014-IT(Inv. V) /350
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Direct Taxes)
*******
Room No. 515, 5th Floor, C-Block,
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civic Centre,
Minto Road, New Delhi -110002.
Dated: 09.09.2019

Subject: Relaxation of time-Compounding of Offences under Direct Tax Laws-One-time measure-Reg.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has been issuing guidelines from time to time for compounding of offences under the Direct Tax Laws, prescribing the eligibility conditions. One of the conditions for filing of Compounding application is that, it should be filed within 12 months from filing of complaint in the court.

2. Cases have been brought to the notice of CBDT where the taxpayer s could not apply for Compounding of the Offence, as the compounding application was filed beyond 12 months. in view of para 8(vii) of the Guidelines for Compounding of Offences under Direct Tax Laws. 2014 dated 23. 12.2014 or in view of para 7(ii) of the Guidelines for Compounding of Offences under Direct Tax Laws, 2019 dated 14.06.2019.

3. With a view to mitigate unintended hardship to taxpayers in deserving cases, and to reduce the pendency of existing prosecution cases before the courts, the CBDT in exercise of powers u/s 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) read with explanation below subsection (3) of section 279 of the Act issues this Circular.

4.1 As a one-time measure, the condition that compounding application shall be filed within 12 months, is hereby relaxed, under the following conditions:

i) Such application shall be filed before the Competen t Authority i.e. the Pr. CCIT/CCITIPr. DGIT/DGIT concerned, on or before 31.12.2019.

ii) Relaxation shall not be available in respect of an offence which is generally/normally not compoundable , in view of Para 8.1 of the Guide lines dated 14.06.20 19.

4.2 Applications tiled before the Competent Authority, on or before 31.12.2019 shall be deemed to be in time in terms of Para 7(ii) of the Guidelines dated 14.06.2019.

4.3 It is clarified that Para 9.2 of the Guidelines dated 14.06. 2019, shall not apply to all such applications made under this one-time measure. The other prescriptions of the Guidelines dated 14.06.20 19 including the compounding procedure, compounding charges etc. shall apply to such applications.

5. For the purposes of this Circular, application can be filed in all such cases where a) prosecution proceedings are pending before any court of law for more than 12 months . or b) any compounding application for an offence filed previously was withdrawn by the applicant solely for the reason that such application was filed beyond 12 months, or

c) any compounding application for an offence had been rejected previous ly solely for technical reasons.

6. Hind version shall follow.
(Mamta Bansal)
Director to the Government of India