Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) on time is crucial. Here's why:
Financial Penalties:
- Interest Charges: Delaying your ITR means paying interest (Section 234A) at 1% per month on unpaid taxes, accruing from the due date until filing or assessment completion.
- Late Filing Fees: The Income Tax Department levies a penalty (Section 234F) for late filing:
- ₹5,000 for returns filed before December 31st of the assessment year.
- A reduced penalty of ₹1,000 applies to taxpayers with income below ₹5 lakh.
- Loss of Carry-Forward Losses: Not filing on time can restrict carrying forward business losses or other income-based losses to offset future taxes.
Serious Consequences:
- Penalties and Prosecution: In severe cases, the department can impose harsher penalties or even prosecute for willful neglect to file.
- Higher TDS for Non-filers of ITR:
- Section 206AB - This section applies to payments made to a Specified Person. In such cases, the deductor is required to deduct TDS at a higher rate:
- Double the normal rate applicable to that specific transaction.
- OR a minimum of 5%, whichever is higher.
- Higher TCS for Non-filers of ITR
- Section 206CCA -: This section applies to Tax Collected at Source, where the seller is a "Specified Person", then the buyer who is supposed to collect TCS is required to deduct it at a higher rate:
- Double the normal rate applicable to that specific transaction.
- OR a minimum of 5%, whichever is higher.
Key Term
- Specified Person: A specified person under Section 206CCA & 206AB is defined as someone who has not filed their income tax return for the previous year in which the due date for filing the return of income under section 139(1) has expired, and the aggregate of TDS and TCS is ₹50,000 or more in that previous year. However, it excludes:
- A non-resident who does not have a permanent establishment in India.
- Persons who are not required to furnish the return of income and are notified by the Central Government.