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2020 (1) TMI 624 - KERALA HIGH COURTPenalty u/s 271B - assessee submitted the audited financial statements but failed to furnish report of audited accounts (audit report) as required u/s 44AB - HELD THAT:- the appellant had furnished only the Annual Report depicting the audited financial statement along with copy of the receipts and distribution statements. It is also evident that the appellant had furnished a Certificate issued by the Joint Director (Audit) of the Co-operative Department. - He has not furnished the report of audit in the prescribed form, Form 3CA, as required under the second proviso (as it stood then) to Section 44AB read with the requirements under Rule 6G(1) of the Income Tax Rules. When the second proviso carves out an exemption from the general provisions of Section 44AB, the stipulations therein need to be strictly adhered and the mere fact that the audit of the assessee was conducted under the provisions of the Co-operative Societies Act, would not be sufficient for such compliance. Furnishing of the report of audit in the prescribed form accompanied with a further report by an Accountant in the prescribed form, is a mandatory requirement for proper compliance. Since the appellant had failed to show any 'reasonable cause', coming within the purview of Section 273B, the imposition of penalty under Section 271B cannot be interfered with. Reliance on the circular of CBDT - it is contended that, the audited report need not be attached along with the returns or furnished separately at any time before or after the due date; but it need only to be retained by the assessee and produced if it is called for by the Income Tax Authority during any proceedings under the Act. The Circular says that no penalty under Section 271B shall be initiated or levied for not furnishing the tax audit report before the due date. Therefore the imposition of penalty under Section 271B cannot be sustained, is the contention. - We are not persuaded to accept the above contention in view of the mandatory provisions contained in Section 44AB, which insists on furnishing of the audit report in the prescribed form before the due date stipulated, along with a further report of an Accountant. When the specific provision contained in the statute is unambiguous in this respect, we cannot hold otherwise based on any circular of the Department. Hence the above contention cannot be accepted. Further, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents contended that, the penalty proceedings in this case was initiated on the allegation that the appellant had failed to obtain a proper audit report within the date stipulated in the relevant provision. - Decided against assessee.
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