S. 272B Penalty is Rs. 10000 per deductor and not per wrong PAN

The assessing officer had imposed penalty of Rs. 10,000/- in each case where PAN Number was not provided by the deductee. There were in all 30706 cases in which the PAN Number was missing or was incorrectly stated. The assessing officer, accordingly, imposed penalty of Rs. 10,000/- in each case. Thus, penalty of Rs. 30,70,60,000/- was imposed. Board  in the letter dated 5.8.2008 vide No. 275/24/2007-IT(B) has clarified that penalty of Rs. 10,000/- under Section 272B is linked to the person, i.e., the deductor who is responsible to deduct TDS, and not to the number of defaults regarding the PAN quoted in the TDS return. Therefore, regardless of the number of defaults in each return, maximum penalty of Rs. 10,000/- can be imposed on the deductor. Penalty cannot be imposed by calculating the number of defective entries in each return and by multiplying them with Rs. 10,000/-. This also appears to be a legislative intent, as in many cases, the TDS amount may be small or insignificant fraction of Rs. 10,000/-.

HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

ITA 314/2013

COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-TDS

versus

DHTC LOGISTICS LTD.

ORDER

26.07.2013

1. There are two reasons why we feel the present appeal should not be entertained.

2. Firstly, the assessing officer in the penalty order under Section 272B has not specifically referred to any default or failure by the respondent- assessee mentioning PAN Number even when the said particulars and details were available. The stand taken by the respondent was that the PAN Numbers were not furnished by the Truck owners and, therefore, they were not quoted by them or PAN Numbers as informed were quoted. In case, the PAN Numbers are not furnished by the deductees, the respondent- assessee cannot be penalized under Section 272B. Section 139A also imposes the obligation on the deductees to furnish PAN Number to the deductor.

3. Secondly, the stand taken by the revenue is contrary to the stand taken by Central Board of Direct Taxes. The assessing officer had imposed penalty of Rs. 10,000/- in each case where PAN Number was not provided by the deductee. There were in all 30706 cases in which the PAN Number was missing or was incorrectly stated. The assessing officer, accordingly, imposed penalty of Rs. 10,000/- in each case. Thus, penalty of Rs. 30,70,60,000/- was imposed. Board  in the letter dated 5.8.2008 vide No. 275/24/2007-IT(B) has clarified that penalty of Rs. 10,000/- under Section 272B is linked to the person, i.e., the deductor who is responsible to deduct TDS, and not to the number of defaults regarding the PAN quoted in the TDS return. Therefore, regardless of the number of defaults in each return, maximum penalty of Rs. 10,000/- can be imposed on the deductor. Penalty cannot be imposed by calculating the number of defective entries in each return and by multiplying them with Rs. 10,000/-. This also appears to be a legislative intent, as in many cases, the TDS amount may be small or insignificant fraction of Rs. 10,000/-.

4. We clarify that we have not examined in this appeal, question and issue that if a deductee has made a representation to the deductor and inspite of the said representation, proper details and particulars are not correctly mentioned/recorded by the deductor, whether penalty under Section 272B can be imposed, as a separate case.

5.In view of the aforesaid position, we do not think any substantial question of law arises for consideration.

The appeal is dismissed.

SANJIV KHANNA, J

SANJEEV SACHDEVA, J

JULY 26, 2013

NF