Section 220(2) of the Income Tax Act

Income-tax Act, 2025: s.411

Section 220(2) falls under section 220 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, which corresponds to section 411 (When tax payable and when assessee deemed in default) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Read section 411 of the 2025 Act

Correspondence checked against the ICAI tabular mapping of the two Acts and the BharatTax.co section commentary.

The decision most relied on for Section 220(2) is Fatehraj Singhvi v. UOI (73 Taxmann.com 252), cited in 1,778 of the 550 judgments on BharatTax that turn on this section.

Leading authorities on Section 220(2)

Fatehraj Singhvi v. UOI
73 Taxmann.com 252 · 2016 · High Court
1,778
citing judgments

Late fees under section 234E are not applicable for periods prior to June 1, 2015, as the amendment to section 200A inserting clause (c) was effective from that date.

Kourani v. Union OF India
83 Taxmann.com 137 · 2017 · High Court
1,708
citing judgments

The fee under Section 234E for late filing of TDS/TCS statements cannot be levied retrospectively by processing an intimation under Section 200A for defaults occurring before the amendment allowing such processing.

Fateh Raj Singhvi & Ors. v. UOI
289 CTR 602 · 2016 · High Court
844
citing judgments

A fee under Section 234E cannot be levied or adjusted in an intimation under Section 200A for TDS statements pertaining to periods prior to June 1, 2015, as the enabling amendment to Section 200A(1)(c) came into effect only from that date.

Rashmikant Kundalia v. Union of India
54 Taxmann.com 200 · 2015 · High Court
702
citing judgments

Section 234E, levying late fees for delayed filing of TDS statements under section 200(3), is constitutionally valid and constitutes a compensatory fee, not a punitive penalty. Before treating any person as an assessee-in-default, an opportunity of being heard must be provided.

Olari Little Flower Kuries (P.) Ltd. v. UOI
440 ITR 26 · 2022 · High Court
614
citing judgments

The fee under Section 234E of the Income-tax Act cannot be levied for defaults in filing TDS statements committed prior to June 1, 2015, as the provision for its levy became effective only from that date.

Gajanan Constructions v. DCIT
74 Taxmann.com 6 · 2016 · ITAT
465
citing judgments

Late fees under section 234E can only be levied prospectively from June 1, 2015. Levying late fees for periods prior to this date is not permissible.

Dundlod Shikshan Sansthan v. Union of India
63 Taxmann.com 243 · 2015 · High Court
397
citing judgments

The imposition of fees for late filing of TDS/TCS returns prior to the Finance Act, 2015 amendments was not illegal, and the Rajasthan High Court found no justification to interfere with such compensatory fees.

Jiji Varghese v. ITO(TDS) & Ors.
443 ITR 267 · 2022 · High Court
220
citing judgments

Section 234E fee cannot be imposed for periods prior to June 1, 2015. This applies even when the processing of the return under Section 200A(c) occurred before that date.

Sree Narayana Guru Smaraka Sangam Upper Primary School v. Union of India and Others
392 ITR 457 · 2017 · High Court
217
citing judgments
137 (Guj.) IV. Qatalys Software Technologies (P.) Ltd. v. UOI
115 Taxmann.com 345 · 2020 · High Court
178
citing judgments

The Madras High Court has upheld the validity of the levy of fees under Section 234E and penalties under Section 271H, finding the charging provision to be Section 234E, with the power to levy existing from 01/07/2012.

Judgments on Section 220(2)

M/S. Blue Bird Technicks Private Limited, Kolkata vs. DCIT, Circle 7(1), Kolkata

In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed

ITA 2256/KOL/2025[2015-2016]Status: DisposedITAT Kolkata11 Dec 2025AY 2015-2016

Bench: Shri George Mathan & Shri Rajesh Kumarआयकर अपील सं/Ita No.2256/Kol/2025 (निर्धारण वर्ा / Assessment Year : 2015-2016) M/S Blue Bird Technicks Pvt Ltd Vs Dcit, Circle-7(1), Kolkata Plot 9B, Uttara Commercial Complex, Kolkata, West Bengal-700067 Pan No. :Aadcb 3601 J (अपीलधर्थी /Appellant) .. (प्रत्यर्थी / Respondent) निर्धाररती की ओर से /Assessee By Shri Soumitra Choudhury, Advocate रधजस्व की ओर से /Revenue By : Shri Santanu Ghosh, Sr. Dr सुनवाई की तारीख / Date Of Hearing : 11/12/2025 घोषणा की तारीख/Date Of Pronouncement : 11/12/2025 आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench : This Is An Appeal Filed By The Assessee Against The Order Of The Ld. Addl./Jcit(A)-12, Mumbai, Dated 07.08.2025 For The Assessment Year 2015-2016. 2. It Was Submitted By The Ld.Ar That The Assessee Is In The Business Of Supply Of Telecom & Signal Parts To Indian Railways. It Was Submission That The Total Income Of The Assessee Was For The Impugned Assessment Was Rs.70,01,266/-. It Was Submission That In The Course Of Assessment, The Ao Disallowed An Amount Of Rs.51,37,428/- Paid By The Assessee To M/S Dharavee Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. As Commission Claiming The Same As Bogus Commission . The Ld.Ar Submitted That The Actual Commission Paid Was Of Rs.57,72,416/-. The Ld.Ar Drew Our Attention To The Confirmation On Accounts Provided By M/S Dharavee Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Which Reads As Follows:-

For Respondent: Shri Santanu Ghosh, Sr. DR
Section 133(6)Section 143(1)Section 144