Consequences for Non Payment or Late Payment of TDS

In Recent past we noticed that department has taken late payment of TDS very seriously and in addition to imposing Interest and Penalty for Late Payment, they also start initiating Criminal Prosecution against those responsible for Deduction and Payment of TDS. Recently and MD of a Hyderabad based company been jailed for TDS payment defaults –  Company’s MD Sentenced 3 months rigorous imprisonment for TDS default.  We are discussing here the consequences of Non Payment or Late Payment of TDS.

A deductor would face the following consequences if he fails to deduct TDS or after deducting the same fails to deposit it to the credit of Central Government’s account

a) Disallowance of expenditure: As per section 40(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act, any sum (other than salary) payable outside India or to a non-resident, which is chargeable to tax in India in the hands of the recipient, shall not be allowed to be deducted if it is paid without deduction of tax at source or if tax is deducted but is not deposited with the Central Government till the due date of filing of return.

However, if tax is deducted or deposited in the subsequent year, as the case may be, the expenditure shall be allowed as deduction in that year.

Similarly, as per section 40(a)(ia), any sum payable to a resident, which is subject to deduction of tax at source, would attract 30% disallowance if it is paid without deduction of tax at source or if tax is deducted but is not deposited with the Central Government till the due date of filing of return.

However, where in respect of any such sum, tax is deducted or deposited in subsequent year, as the case may be, the expenditure so disallowed shall be allowed as deduction in that year.

b) Levy of interest–  If a person fails to deduct the whole or any part of the tax at source, or, after deducting, fails to pay the whole  or any part of the tax to the credit of the  Central Government  within the prescribed time, he shall be  liable  to action in accordance with the provisions of section 201 and shall be deemed to be an assessee-in-default in respect of such tax and liable for  penal action u/s 221 of the Act. Further Section 201(1A)  lays down that such person  shall  be liable to pay simple interest

(i) at 1% for every month or part of the month on the amount of such tax from the date on  which such tax was deductible to the date  on which such tax is deducted; and

(ii) at one and one-half percent for every month or part of a month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deducted to the date on which such tax is actually paid.

Such interest, if chargeable,  is mandatory in nature and has to be paid before furnishing of quarterly statement of TDS for respective quarter.

c) Levy of Penalty–  Penalty of an amount equal to tax not deducted could be imposed under section 271C. Penalty shall be charged under section 221 if deductor fails to deduct and pay tax to the credit of Central Government. The penalty shall be levied to the extent the Assessing Officer directs, however, the total amount of penalty shall not exceed the amount of tax in arrears.d) Prosecution: Further, section  276B  lays  down that  if  a person fails to pay to the credit  of  the Central  Government  within  the prescribed  time, as above, the  tax  deducted at  source  by him, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment  for a term which shall be between 3 months and 7 years, along with fine.

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