No GST Penalties, Only Late Fees: Government Clarifies Revenue Details

In response to an unstarred Lok Sabha question, the Ministry of Finance clarified details on revenues from fees and charges related to tax and banking compliance. The Government stated that no fine has been imposed for delayed Aadhaar–PAN linking; however, fees collected for such delays amounted to ₹570.49 crore in FY 2022-23, ₹1,237.94 crore in FY 2023-24, and ₹527.32 crore in FY 2024-25. It was further clarified that no penalties are imposed for late filing of GST returns; instead, late fees are levied, with collections ranging between ₹1,748 crore and ₹1,988 crore annually during FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25, largely driven by GSTR-3B filings. On banking charges, the Government highlighted that zero-balance accounts such as PMJDY and BSBDA attract no minimum balance penalties. Public sector banks have rationalised charges for regular accounts, with bank-wise data provided on minimum balance and SMS alert charges.

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 387
TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026/MAGHA 13, 1947 (SAKA)

REVENUE EARNED BY PENALTIES IMPOSED FOR DELAY IN FILING GST RETURNS

†387. SHRI RAMPRIT MANDAL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be please to state:

(a) the total revenue earned by the Government through the fines collected from the public on account of delay in linking Aadhaar with PAN during the last three years;

(b) the total amount of money collected by the Government as penalties imposed for delay in filing of GST returns during the last four years; and

(c) the amount of money received by the nationalized banks from charges levied for non-maintenance of minimum balance in accounts and for providing SMS facilities during the last three years, bank-wise?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) No fine has been collected from the public on account of delay in linking Aadhaar with PAN. Total revenue/fee collected from public on account of delay in linking Aadhaar with PAN as follow:-

(b) No Penalty is imposed for late filing of returns. Details of fee collected for late filing of returns is enclosed at Annexure ‘A’.

(c) Banks offer zero-balance savings bank accounts, including Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts (BSBDAs) and accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which do not require maintenance of any minimum balance and provide basic banking services such as deposits, withdrawals and ATM access free of charge, without levy of penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance.

In respect of regular savings bank accounts, public sector have waived or rationalised minimum balance charges in accordance with their Board-approved policies and commercial considerations, with a view to enhancing customer centricity. Such charges, where applicable, are governed by the banks’ Board-approved policies and the extant guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which require that the charges are reasonable, transparent, and aligned with the cost of providing the services. The details of the amount of charges collected by nationalised banks on account of non-maintenance of minimum balance and for providing SMS facilities during the last three years are enclosed at Annexure ‘B’.

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Annexure ‘A’

In Rs. Crore

Annexure ‘B’

Amount in Rs. Crore

Source: Public sector Banks

# Information pertain to 11 Nationalised Banks and State Bank of India

SBI has waived the SMS Alert charges w.e.f 1.1.2020