Section 271AAB – Penalty where search has been initiated
Issue/Justification
Section 271AAB provides for imposition of penalty @ 10% on undisclosed income found during the course of search and admitted at the stage of search. Undisclosed income not admitted at the stage of search but disclosed in the return of income filed after the search to attract penalty @ 20%. These are covered under clauses (a) and (b) of section 271AAB. In other cases, i.e. cases covered under clause (c), penalty to be imposed @ 60% of undisclosed income. Aforesaid provisions of section 271AAB are applicable till 15.12.2016 due to insertion of sub-section (1A) vide the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016.
Sub-section (3) provides that the prosecution provisions under sections 274 and 275 would apply in relation to penalty levied under this section.
However, it may not be justified to execute prosecution proceedings where a person has disclosed such income in the course of search or before filing his return of income. Therefore, the prosecution provisions should be made applicable only in respect of cases covered under clause (c).
Suggestion
Sub-section (3) may be amended to provide that the prosecution provisions under sections 274 and 275 would apply in relation to penalty levied only under clause (c) of this sub-section, and not in respect of cases covered under clauses (a) and (b).
(SUGGESTIONS FOR RATIONALIZATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF DIRECT TAX LAWS)
