Interest for deferment of advance tax

(1)

If an assessee, liable to pay advance tax under section 404, other than the assessee mentioned in sub-section (3), has failed to pay such tax, or the advance tax paid by the assessee on its current income on or before the date specified in column B of the Table below, is less than advance tax due on returned income, as specified in column C, then the assessee shall be liable to pay interest on the amount of shortfall of advance tax as specified in column D , at the rate of interest specified in column E: Table Sl. No. Due date of Advance tax Amount of shortfall of Interest Instalment due on advance tax being payable on returned percentage of advance tax shortfall as income due as per column C, as specified in reduced by advance tax column D already paid on or before the date specified in column B A B C D E 1. 15th day 15% of 15%. 3% on the tax due of June the shortfall. on returned income. 2. 15th 45% of 45%. 3% on day of the tax due the shortfall. September. on returned income. 3. 15th 75% of 75%. 3% on day of the tax due the shortfall. December. on returned income. 4. 15th day 100% of 100%. 1% on of March. the tax due the shortfall. on returned income.

(2)

The assessee shall not be liable to pay any interest under sub-section (1), if the advance tax paid by the assessee on the current income,–– (a) on or before the 15th day of June is 12% or more of the tax due on the returned income; or (b) on or before the 15th day of September is 36% or more of the tax due on the returned income.

(3)

An assessee who declares profits and gains as per section 58(2) (Table: Sl. No. 1 or 3) or, who is liable to pay advance tax under section 404, has failed to pay such tax, or the advance tax paid by the assessee on its current income on or before the 15th day of March is less than the tax due on returned income, shall be liable to pay simple interest at the rate of 1% on the amount of shortfall from the tax due on returned income..

(4)

No interest shall be payable under sub-section (1) or (3) in respect of shortfall in the payment of tax due on returned income, where,–– (a) the shortfall is on account of underestimation or failure to estimate the following incomes:–– (i) capital gains;

(ii)

income as per section 2(49)(n);

(iii)

income under the head profits and gains of business or profession accruing or arising for the first time;

(iv)

dividend income; and (b) the assessee has paid in full, the tax payable on the incomes referred to in clause (a), in any of the remaining instalments of advance tax, if any, or by the 31st day of March of the tax year.

(5)

For the purposes of this section “tax due on the returned income” means the tax chargeable on the total income declared in the return of income furnished by the assessee for the tax year in which the advance tax is paid or payable, as reduced by the amount of— (a) any tax deducted or collected at source as per the provisions of Chapter XIX-B on any income which is subject to such deduction or collection and which is taken into account in computing such total income;

(b)

any relief of tax allowed under section 157;

(c)

any relief of tax allowed under section 159(1) on account of tax paid in a country outside India;

(d)

any relief of tax allowed under section 159(2) on account of tax paid in a specified territory outside India referred to in that section;

(e)

any deduction, from the Indian income-tax payable, allowed under section 160, on account of tax paid in a country outside India; and (f) any tax credit allowed to be set off as per section 206(13).