Budget 2016: Existing provision of Sub-section (1) provides for levy of penalty of ten thousand rupees for each failure or default to answer the questions raised by an income-tax authority under the Income-tax Act, refusal to sign any statement legally required during the proceedings under the Income-tax Act or failure to attend to give evidence or produce books or documents as required under sub-section (1) of section 131 of the Income-tax Act.
It is proposed to amend sub-section (1) of section 272A to further include levy of penalty of ten thousand rupees for each default or failure to comply with a notice issued under sub-section (1) of section 142 or sub-section (2) of section 143 or failure to comply with a direction issued under sub-section (2A) of section 142.
It is further proposed to amend sub-section (3) of section 272A to provide that penalty in case of failure referred above shall be levied by the income tax authority issuing such notice or direction.
It is also proposed to make consequential amendment to section 288 by insertion of a new clause (d) in sub- section (1) of section 272A in the Income-tax Act relating to penalty for failure to comply with the notices and directions specified therein.
These amendments will take effect from the 1st day of April, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2017 -2018 and subsequent years.
Clause 103 of Finance Bill 2016
Clause 103 of the Bill seeks to amend section 272A of the Income-tax Act relating to penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, furnish information, returns or statements, allow inspections, etc.
Sub-section (1) of the said section provides for levy of penalty of ten thousand rupees for each failure or default to answer the questions raised by an income-tax authority under the Income-tax Act, refusal to sign any statement legally required during the proceedings under the Income-tax Act or failure to attend to give evidence or produce books or documents as required under subsection (1) of section 131 of the Income-tax Act.
It is proposed to insert a new clause (d) in the said sub-section so as to include levy of penalty of ten thousand rupees for each default or failure to comply with a notice issued under sub-section (1) of section 142 or sub-section (2) of section 143 or failure to comply with a direction issued under sub-section (2A) of section 142.
It is also proposed to amend sub-section (3) of the aforesaid section to provide that penalty under clause (d) of sub-section (1) shall be imposed by the Income-tax authority issuing such notice or direction.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2017-2018 and subsequent years.
Clause 111 of Finance Bill 2016
Clause 111 of the Bill seeks to amend section 288 of the Income-tax Act relating to appearance by authorised representative.
Clause (b) of sub-section (4) of the aforesaid section bars an authorised representative to represent an assessee before any income-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal if he has been convicted of an offence connected with any income-tax proceedings or if a penalty has been imposed on him under the Income-tax Act other than a penalty imposed under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 271.
It is proposed to amend clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 288 so as to provide that a person on whom a penalty has been imposed under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of section 272A of the Income-tax Act shall also not be barred to represent an assessee before any income-tax authority or the Appellate Tribunal.
The proposed amendment is consequential to the insertion of a new clause (d) in sub-section (1) of section 272A in the Income-tax Act relating to penalty for failure to comply with the notices and directions specified therein.
This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2017-2018 and subsequent years.
[Clause 103 & 111]
