TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
Master Circular on Compounding of Contraventions under FEMA, 1999
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.... condition subject to which an authorization is issued by the Reserve Bank, he shall, upon adjudication, be liable to a penalty up to thrice the sum involved in such contravention where the amount is quantifiable or up to Rupees Two lakh, where the amount is not quantifiable and where the contravention is a continuing one, further penalty which may extend to Rupees Five thousand for every day after the first day during which the contravention continues (Section 13(1), Chapter IV of FEMA, 1999). 1.2 Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 have been published by the Government of India empowering the Reserve Bank to compound contraventions under FEMA, 1999. The provisions of Section 15 of FEMA, 1999 permit compounding of contraventions and empower the Compounding Authority to compound any contravention as defined under Section 13 of the Act on an application made by the person committing such contravention either before or after the institution of adjudication proceedings. 1.3 The Government of India has, in consultation with the Reserve Bank placed the responsibilities of administering compounding of cases with the Reserve Bank, except under Section 3(a)....
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....information, record or any other documents relevant to the compounding proceedings and will hold the proceedings. The Compounding Order will be passed by the CA after affording the contravener and others concerned, an opportunity of being heard. 3.4 The application will be examined based on the documents and submissions made in the application, in terms of sub rule (1) of rule (4) of the Foreign Exchange (Compounding Proceedings) Rules, 2000 and assess whether the contravention is compoundable and if so, the amount of contravention is accordingly quantified. 3.5 The nature of contravention is ascertained keeping in view, inter alia, the following indicative points : a. whether the contravention is technical and / or minor in nature and needs only an administrative cautionary advice; b. whether the contravention is serious in nature and warrants compounding of the contravention; and c. whether the contravention, prima facie, involves money-laundering, national and security concerns involving serious infringement of the regulatory framework. 3.6 The disposal of the compounding application is made by issue of a Compounding Order specifying the provisions of ....
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....mpliance of the contravener; (v) contravener's conduct in undertaking the transaction and disclosure of full facts in the application and submissions made during the personal hearing; and (vi) any other factor considered relevant and appropriate. 5. Issue of the Compounding Order 5.1 An opportunity for personal hearing is given to the applicant for further submission of documents in person in support of the application within a specified period. If the contravener or its authorized representative fails to appear in person or make any submissions before the CA for personal hearing, the CA may proceed with the processing of the compounding application on the basis of information and documents available in the application for compounding. 5.2 The Compounding Authority will pass a compounding order on the basis of the averments made in the application as well as other documents and submissions made in this context by the contravener during the personal hearings, if any. 5.3 Where the compounding of any contravention is made after making of a complaint under sub-section (3) of section 16 of FEMA, 1999 as the case may be, one copy of the compounding order ....
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....e not been obtained, such contraventions would not be compounded unless the required approvals are obtained from the authorities concerned. 7.3 Cases of contravention, such as, those having a money laundering angle, national security concern and / or involving serious infringements of the regulatory framework or where the contravener fails to pay the sum for which contravention was compounded within the specified period in terms of the compounding order, shall be referred to the Directorate of Enforcement for further investigation and necessary action under FEMA, 1999 or to the authority instituted for implementation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002, (PMLA) or to any other agencies, for necessary action , as deemed fit. 7.4 The Reserve Bank generally advises the persons concerned of their choice and option to make an application for compounding as and when such contraventions come to its notice. The facts constituting such contraventions will be brought to the notice of the Directorate of Enforcement in case no application for compounding is made within the time indicated by the Reserve Bank. Click here to view the full ANNEX ============= Docum....
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....pees forty lakhs or more but less than rupees hundred lakhs by the General Manager of Reserve Bank of India; (d) in case the sum involved in such contravention is rupees one hundred lakhs or more, by the Chief General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India; Provided further that no contravention shall be compounded unless the amount involved in such contravention is quantifiable. (2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to a contravention committed by any person within a period of three years from the date on which a similar contravention committed by him was compounded under these rules. Explanation: For the purposes of this rule, any second or subsequent contravention committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the contravention was previously compounded shall be deemed to be a first contravention. (3) Every officer specified under sub-rule (1) of rule 4 of the Reserve Bank of India shall exercise the powers to compound any contravention subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. (4) Every application for compounding any contravention under this rule shall be made in ....
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....ravention is compounded before the adjudication of any contravention under section 16, no inquiry shall be held for adjudication of such contravention in relation to such contravention against the person in relation to whom the contravention is so compounded. 7. Where the compounding of any contravention is made after making of a complaint under sub-section (3) of section 16, such compounding shall be brought by the authority specified in rule 4 or rule 5 in writing, to the notice of the Adjudicating Authority and on such notice of the compounding of the contravention being given, the person in relation to whom the contravention is so compounded shall be discharged. 11 12 of 15 8. Procedure for Compounding - (1) The Compounding Authority may call for any information, record or any other documents relevant to the compounding proceedings. (2) The Compounding Authority shall pass an order of compounding after affording an opportunity of being heard to all the concerned as expeditiously as possible as and not later than 180 days from the date of application. 9. Payment of amount compounded - 3 The sum for which the contravention is compounded as specified in the orde....