Court Overturns Penalties for Armed Forces Veterans Canteen; Timely Tax Payment Validates Petitioner's Compliance.

The Court set aside the impugned order in Ext. P6, allowing the writ petition filed by the petitioner, an Armed Forces Veterans Canteen. The Court recognized that the petitioner had filed the quarterly TDS returns on time, albeit in the incorrect Form, which was later corrected. Consequently, it ruled that there was no justification for imposing penalties or interest for late filing, as the tax was deducted and deposited on time. The earlier decision of the Assessing Authority to impose a late fee and interest was deemed improper, and the penalties were annulled.

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Issues: Impugning Ext. P6 order dated 03.03.2023 for Assessment Year 2018-19 on remand by the Tribunal regarding the demand of late fee under Section 234E of the Income Tax Act.

The petitioner, an Armed Forces Veterans Canteen, was served with a notice under Section 201 for not filing the quarterly statement for the second quarter of Financial Year 2017-18 in Form 26Q. Despite deducting and paying the tax, the petitioner filed Form 24Q instead, which was rejected. The correct Form was filed later, leading to the imposition of a late fee of Rs. 47,000/- and interest on the late fee payment of Rs. 567/-. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) affirmed the order, prompting the petitioner to approach the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. The Tribunal remanded the matter back to the Assessing Authority, emphasizing that the quarterly TDS returns were filed on time, and only the Form was incorrectly filed.

On remand, the Assessing Authority initially assessed a 'Nil' demand in accordance with the Tribunal's order. However, in a subsequent order (Ext. P6), the Assessing Authority re-imposed a late fee of Rs. 47,000/-, interest of Rs. 23,500/-, and interest on late payment of Rs. 567/-. The petitioner's counsel argued that the earlier stand of the Assessing Officer was rejected by the Tribunal, which found that the return for the second quarter of the Financial Year 2017-18 was filed on time, albeit in the incorrect Form. As the correct Form was subsequently filed, the petitioner should not be penalized for late filing. It was also contended that since the tax deducted as TDS was deposited on time, there should be no levy of interest.

The Court acknowledged the petitioner's timely filing of the return, albeit in the incorrect Form, which was later revised. Therefore, the Court concluded that since the return was filed on time, there was no basis for imposing penalties or interest. Consequently, the writ petition was allowed, and the impugned order in Ext. P6 was set aside.

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