ITAT upheld CIT(A)'s decision confirming assessee's liability to...

ITAT upheld CIT(A)'s decision confirming assessee's liability to collect TCS on compounding fees received from illegal miners and transporters of minerals. The tribunal determined that since the assessee received payments equivalent to 10 times the normal royalty amount from unauthorized operators, they were obligated to collect TCS under Section 206C. The assessee's argument against TCS applicability was rejected as lacking substance. Having failed to collect required TCS, the assessee was correctly designated as 'assessee-in-default' under Section 206C(6). The tribunal affirmed the lower authorities' interpretation, noting consistency with previous rulings on identical issues regarding mineral royalty collection and TCS obligations.