Case Law Details
In the quantum proceedings before the Tribunal, the assessee has accepted her liability for deduction of tax at source, for whatever reason may be, and as a result the issue was decided against the assessee by the Tribunal by upholding the order passed under section 201(1). However, the issue before us is, merely because assessee was held liable for deduction of tax at source under section 195, whether automatically it will result in imposition of penalty under section 271C.
On a careful reading of the provision as contained under section 271C, it is noticed that any person who fails to deduct tax at source, shall be liable to pay by way of penalty a sum equal to the amount of tax which he has failed to deduct. However, imposition of penalty under section 271C is subject to the condition imposed under section 273B. A reading of section 273B of the Act suggests that where the assessee proves that the failure to deduct tax was for a reasonable cause, no penalty can be imposed. Therefore, from the conjoint reading of section 271C and 273B, it is clearly evident that imposition of penalty under section 271C is neither automatic nor mandatory.
The authority concerned is empowered under section 273B not to impose penalty in a deserving case if he is satisfied that there was reasonable cause for failure to comply to statutory requirement. Therefore, confirmation of demand raised under section 201, cannot be the sole criteria for imposing penalty under section 271C. Keeping in view the aforesaid legal principles, it is to be examined whether there was reasonable cause for failure on the part of the assessee to deduct tax at source. On a perusal of the relevant facts on record, it is observed, the payment of U.S. $ 77,500 was made to a non–resident for development of website and other allied works. Therefore, question is whether such payment attracts deduction of tax under section 195. As is evident, assessee’s C.A., had issued a certificate opining that tax is not required to be deducted at source on the remittances to Ms. Simone Sheffield, as the payment is made to a non–resident having no P.E. in India that too, for services rendered outside India. It is a well accepted fact that every citizen of the country is neither fully aware of nor is expected to know the technicalities of the Income Tax Act.
Therefore, for discharging their statutory duties and obligations, they take assistance and advise of professionals who are well acquainted with the statutory provisions.
In the present case also, assessee has engaged a chartered accountant to guide her in complying to statutory requirements. Therefore, when the C.A. issued a certificate opining that there is no requirement for deduction of tax at source, assessee under a bonafide belief that withholding of tax is not required did not deduct tax at source on the remittances made. Though, this fact was brought to the notice of the Departmental Authorities in course of the penalty proceedings but due weightage has not been given to such contention of the assessee.
In our view, the explanation submitted by the assessee is a valid explanation and cannot be brushed aside with some general observations. Only because the assessee before the Tribunal had accepted her liability for deduction of tax at source, cannot be the sole basis for imposition of penalty completely ignoring the primary and fundamental reason shown by the assessee for failure to deduct such tax.
Proceedings under sections 201 and 271C, are two independent and separate proceedings. While imposing penalty, the authority concerned is duty bound to examine assessee’s explanation to find out whether there was reasonable cause for failure to deduct tax at source. As is evident, the assessee being advised by a professional well acquainted with provisions of the Act had not deducted tax at source.
Therefore, no malafide intention can be imputed to the assessee for failure to deduct tax. More so, when the issue whether tax was required to be deducted at source, on payments to a non–resident for services rendered is a complex and debatable issue requiring interpretation of statutory provisions vis–a–vis relevant DTAA between the countries. Therefore, in our considered opinion, failure on the part of the assessee to deduct tax at source was due to a reasonable cause. The decisions relied upon by the learned Authorised Representative also support this view. Accordingly, we delete the penalty imposed under section 271C.
