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2020 (2) TMI 425 - HC - Income TaxLevy of Fee u/s 234F for default in furnishing return of income u/s 139(1) - constitutional validity - violation of article 14 - Classification of all defaulters as one class - HELD THAT:- It is well settled that it is not necessary that there must be mathematical precision between the fee paid and service rendered. All that is necessary is a reasonable relationship between fee charged and the services rendered. A burden of fee for an additional exercise by the revenue compels the assessee to exercise promptitude or otherwise pay an additional fee. The legislature intent is not to arbitrarily burden the assessee by realising something extra but to call upon the assessee to share the burden of extra exercise due to delay on his part. The department is correct in contending that the acts of an assessee in discharging his entire tax liability to the Government by way of Advance Tax, TDS, self assessment, etc., is set at naught if the same is not intimated to the Government in time by filing of return of income in order to enable to cross verify the same and complete the assessment within the period of limitation and in order to ensure that such acts of an assessee in discharging his entire tax liability bear fruits, a regulatory mechanism in the form of Section 234 F has been inserted in the statute book and the same cannot be termed as illogical or harsh. Section 234F is not violative of any of the other provisions of Income Tax Act or the Constitution of India. Nothing has been shown as to how the Section is manifestly arbitrary for it to be struck down. It is well settled that if it is a charge for service rendered by the commercial agency and the amount of fee levied is based on the expenses incurred by the Government rendering the fee. Unlike the tax which is compulsory extraction of money, enforceable by law and not in return of any services rendered. The distinction between the tax and the fee is that tax is levied as a part of common burden while fee is payment for a special benefit of privilege. Fee confers some advantage and is a return of consideration for services rendered. The element of quid pro quo strict senso is not always a sine qua non of a fee. Nonetheless, the fee under Section 234 F is charged for delay in submitting the return of income beyond the prescribed time, which is privilege to allow late filing of the return. The revenue is justified in holding that the object of the provision is thus intended to ensure proper and timely filing of return. The gravamen of the offence is failure to submit the return within a stipulated time. So far as these persons are concerned, they form a class by themselves. Whether a person is richer comparatively than the other has no relevance to this classification. Therefore, the classification of all such defaulters as one class is a reasonable classification and does not offend Article 14 of the Constitution of India. W.P. dismissed.
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