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Facts
The assessee's case for AY 2022-23 was assessed u/s 144 read with section 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961. A penalty of Rs. 30,000/- was imposed by the Assessing Officer u/s 272A(1)(d) for non-compliance with three notices issued u/s 142(1), which was subsequently confirmed by the CIT(A). The assessee contested the penalty, arguing that only one show-cause notice was properly issued, while others were mere reminders.
Held
The Tribunal observed that the Assessing Officer had issued only one proper show-cause notice for the penalty, and the other two instances were merely reminders concerning the first original notice. Consequently, the Tribunal deleted the penalty of Rs. 20,000/- pertaining to the two reminders and confirmed the penalty of Rs. 10,000/- for the single valid show-cause notice.
Key Issues
Whether a penalty under section 272A(1)(d) can be imposed for multiple instances of non-compliance with notices when only one proper show-cause notice was issued, and the others were mere reminders for the initial default.
Sections Cited
250, 272A(1)(d), 144, 144B, 142(1)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “SMC”
Before: DR. ARJUN LAL SAINI
Appellant by : Shri Vimal Desai, Ld. AR Respondent by : Shri Abhimanyu Singh Yadav, Ld. Sr. DR Date of Hearing : 04/09/2025 Date of Pronouncement : 28/11/2025 आदेश / O R D E R Per, Dr. Arjun Lal Saini, AM; Captioned appeal filed by the assessee, pertaining to Assessment Year 2022-23, is directed against the order passed under section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) by National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi/Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), dated 23/06/2025, which in turn arises out of an order passed by the Assessing Officer dated 05/09/2024, u/s 272A(1)(d) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Grounds of appeal raised by the assessee are as follows: 1. The penalty order u/s. 272A(1)(d) of the Act is bad in law.
2. The learned Assessing Officer has erred in law as well as on facts in levying the penalty of Rs. 30,000/-u/s. 272A(1)(d) of the Act. The Id. CIT(A) has erred in law as well as on facts in confirming the same.
Brief facts qua the issue are that the case of the assessee was assessed on 19/03/2024, at an income of Rs. 15,08,32,984/-, u/s 144 read with section 144B of the Income tax Act, 1961, for the assessment year (A.Y.) 2022-23. During the course of assessment proceedings, notice u/s 142(1) of the Act were issued to the assessee on 14.08.2023, 25.09.2023 & 16.01.2024 respectively, which all remained un-complied with. Hence, penalty proceedings u/s 272A(1)(d) was initiated on dated 19/03/2024 for non-compliance of notice u/s 142(1) of the Income tax Act, 1961. During the course of penalty proceedings, the assessee did not comply any of the show- cause notices, as well as the assessee did not comply with notices u/s 142(1) of the Act, which were issued to the assessee, on 14.08.2023, 25.09.2023 & 16.01.2024 respectively for the assessment year (A.Y.) 2022-23, during the course of assessment proceedings. In the penalty proceedings all the penalty notices sent through his Registered E-mail ID. Therefore, keeping in view of the above facts, the assessing officer noticed that the assessee has nothing to say in this regard and has also failed to comply with notice u/s 142(1) of the Act which were issued to the assessee on 14.08.2023, 25.09.2023 & 16.01.2024 respectively for the A.Y. 2022-23 during the course of assessment proceedings. Therefore, assessing officer was satisfied that the assessee has intentionally failed to respond the notices issued u/s 142(1) of the Income tax Act, 1961 and subsequently show-cause notices issued against current penal proceedings. Therefore, the assessee is held to be in default u/s 272A(1)(d) of the Income tax Act, 1961 for non-compliance of notice u/s 142(1) of the Income tax Act, 1961 issued on 14.08.2023, 25.09.2023 & 16.01.2024 respectively for the A.Y. 2022-23. Hence, a penalty of Rs.30,000/-, u/s 272A(1)(d) of the Income tax Act, 1961 was imposed on the assessee.
Aggrieved by the order of the assessing officer, the assessee carried the matter in appeal before the Ld. CIT(A), who has confirmed the action of the assessing officer, therefore, the assessee is in appeal before this Tribunal.
At the outset, the Learned Counsel for the assesse, argued that the assessing officer did not mention any reasons that why he is going to impose penalty u/s. 272A(1)(d) of the Act. Only, the one show -cause notice was issued by the assessing officer. There after, the assessing officer has issued only reminders, therefore, reminders cannot be treated as a separate show-cause notice, hence, the penalty should not levied.
On the other hand, the Learned DR for the revenue submitted that the assessee has failed to explain the sufficient cause, hence, the penalty should be imposed on account of three defaults, committed by the assessee.
I have heard both the parties and perused the material available on record. I note that the assessment order was passed by the assessing officer u/s. 144 r.w.s. 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for assessment year (AY) 2022-23, vide order dated 19.03.2024. Since, the assessment order itself has been framed u/s. 144 of the Act, hence, I note that there is no compliance by the assessee, during the assessment proceedings, of various notices issued by the assessing officer. I also note that the assessing officer has imposed penalty to the tune of Rs.30,000/- for the 3 defaults. However, I note that the assessing officer has issued only one show cause, notice asking the assessee that why the penalty should not be imposed, and in other two notices, only remainders were sent by the assessing officer, in respect of the first original notice, therefore, penalty for these two remainders of Rs. 10,000/- each, imposed by the assessing officer should be deleted. Therefore, I delete the penalty of Rs. 20,000/- for two remainders issued by the assessing Page 3 of 4 officer and I confirm the penalty to the tune of Rs. 10,000/- only, hence, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed.
In the result, appeal filed by the assessee, is partly allowed, in above terms.
Order pronounced in the open court on 28/ 11/ 2025.