Budget 2021-22 + FINANCE Bill, 2021

Advance tax instalment for dividend income

Section 234C of the Act provides for payment of interest by an assessee who does not pay or fails to pay on time the advance tax instalments as per section 208 of the Act. The assessee is liable to pay a simple interest at the rate of 1% per month for a period of three months on the amount of shortfall calculated with respect to the due dates for advance tax instalments.

The first proviso of the sub section (1) provides for the relaxation that if the shortfall in the advance tax instalment or the failure to pay the same on time is on account of the income listed therein, no interest under section 234C shall be charged provided the assessee has paid full tax in subsequent advance tax instalments. These exclusions are: -

(a) the amount of capital gains; or

(b) income of the nature referred to in sub-clause (ix) of clause (24) of section 2; or

(c) income under the head "Profits and gains of business or profession" in cases where the income accrues or arises under the said head for the first time; or

(d) income of the nature referred to in sub-section (1) of section 115BBDA.

Aforesaid relaxation is to insulate the taxpayers from payment of interest under section 234C of the Act in cases where accurate determination of advance tax liability is not possible due to the intrinsic nature of the income. Therefore, after considering various representations favourably, it is proposed to include dividend income in the above exclusion but not deemed dividend as per sub-clause (e) of clause (22) of section 2 of the Act.

This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021 and will accordingly apply to the assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent assessment years.

[Clause 53]

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Budget 2021-22 + FINANCE Bill, 2021