Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + HC Income Tax - 2016 (2) TMI HC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2016 (2) TMI 633 - HC - Income TaxInterest for defaults in payment of advance tax u/s 234B - demand raised in the notice issued under section 156 - Held that:- Considering the totality of the facts and on conjoint reading of the aforesaid provisions of sections 143, 234B and 156 of the Income Tax Act and when levy of interest under section 234B of the Act is held to be mandatory and automatic, and the same is on the difference between the advance tax paid and assessed tax and as observed hereinabove, A.O. has no discretion to levy any other interest other than provided under section 234B of the Act. Thereafter, levy of interest under section 234 of the Act would be consequential only and only arithmetically amount of interest is required to be calculated, we are of the opinion that even in absence of any direction by the A.O. while passing assessment order under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, which according to under section only for determining assessed tax, there can be demand of levy and demand of interest under section 156 of the Income Tax Act. It would have been a different fact if the A.O. had any discretion with respect to rate of interest and/or to levy any interest considering the facts and circumstances of the case. As observed hereinabove, as such, A.O. had no such discretion and moment he determines the “assessed tax” and on the eventuality as mentioned in section 234B, i.e. (i) an assessee who is liable to pay advance tax under section 208 has failed to pay such tax, or, where advance tax paid by such assessee under the provisions of section 210 is less than 90% of the “assessed tax”, assessee shall, be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of 1% for every month or part of a month comprised in the period from the first day of April next following such financial year to the date of determination of total income under sub-section (1) of section 143 and (ii) where regular assessment is made to the date of such regular assessment, on the amount equal to assessed tax, or, as the case may be, on the amount by which advance tax paid, as aforesaid, falls short of assessed tax. Under the circumstances and considering the subsequent decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Anjum M.H. Ghaswala (2001 (10) TMI 4 - SUPREME Court) and in the case of Karanvir Singh Gossal (2012 (9) TMI 334 - SUPREME COURT ), question of law posed for consideration of this Court is to be answered in favour of the revenue and against the assessee.
|