Penalty for tax offences mandates higher of fixed or tax-equivalent sanctions for varied GST compliance breaches.

Where a taxable person commits specified GST offences-such as false or missing invoicing, collecting tax but failing to remit, improper deduction or collection, wrongful availment or distribution of input tax credit, fraudulent refund claims, falsification of records, failure to register or to furnish true registration particulars, obstruction of officers, transport without required documents, suppression of turnover, or tampering with detained goods-the law prescribes a penalty equal to a fixed sum or an amount equivalent to the tax evaded or related tax shortfall/irregular credit/refund, whichever is higher. Separate penalties apply for non-fraud and fraud-related short payment or wrongful credit, and for aiding or abetting such offences.

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