Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + HC Income Tax - 2017 (7) TMI HC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2017 (7) TMI 732 - HC - Income TaxBenefit of Amnesty scheme in respect of penalty only - Penalty imposed on the petitioners u/s 271D, 271E and 272A(2)(C) - Revenue denied the benefit as there is a reference to a payment of tax and interest payable on the total income finally determined, along with 25% of the minimum penalty leviable, the Scheme must be intended to cover only such penalties as have been imposed on an assessee along with the assessment order. Held that:- Firstly, the definition of tax arrears does not exclude a situation where the dispute of an assessee is only in respect of a penalty that has been determined against him under the Income Tax Act. Secondly, while the procedure envisaged includes the filing of a declaration solely in respect of penalty, the Scheme suggests that when a declaration is only with regard to penalty, the obligation of the declarant is to pay 25% of the minimum penalty levied, and also to pay the tax and interest payable on the total income finally determined for the assessment year in question. The object of the Scheme appears to be to ensure that, while a person seeking an Amnesty Scheme only in respect of the penalty that is imposed on him, avails the benefit of the Scheme to that extent, it should also be ensured that the said declarant discharges the tax and interest liability under the Income Tax Act for the assessment year in question. A person, who defaults on the tax and interest liability under the Income Tax Act for the assessment year, cannot claim the benefit of amnesty in respect of the penalty alone. It is also significant to note that the exclusions from the Scheme, that are enumerated in Section 208 of the Finance Act, 2016, also do not expressly provide for the exclusion of a declaration, such as those filed in the instant writ petition, where the amnesty is sought only in respect of a penalty that is imposed under the Income tax Act. Thus, find that, the reasons stated in Exts.P8, P9 and P10 intimations served on the petitioners cannot be legally sustained to deny the petitioners the benefit of Ext.P4 Amnesty Scheme. Resultantly, quash Exts.P8, P9 and P10 intimations in both the writ petitions and direct the 2nd respondent to process Exts.P5, P6 and P7 declarations submitted by the petitioners in both the writ petitions expeditiously and in terms of Exts.P4 Scheme, as clarified in this judgment. - Decided in favor of assessee.
|