INTEREST UNDER SECTION 234 A

INTEREST UNDER SECTION 234 A FOR DEFAULT IN FURNISHING INCOME TAX RETURN

Section 234A says that the interest should be leviable for the late or non furnishing of return of income on due date.

According to this section where a return of income is filled after due date u/s.139(1)(4) / notice u/s.142  or a return of income is not filled, the assesse shall be liable to pay simple interest @ of 1% for per month or part of month.

Duration of Interest:

1. Where a return of income is filled after due date:
   Interest should be payable from the date following the due date to the date of filling of return of income . For e.g.  The due date of filling of return is 31^stjuly but the return is filed on 15^thoct. In this case interest should be payable for the three month (Aug, Sep, Oct).
2. Where a return of income is not filled:
   Interest should be payable from the date following the due date to the ending date of completion of assessment u/s. 144.  For e.g.  The due date of filling of return is 31^stjuly, 2013 & the Assessment u/s. 144 is completing on 31^st march,2015 .In this case interest should be payable for the period of  twenty months.

Amount on which interest is leviable:
Interest should be leviable on the amount of tax on total income as reduced by the :

(i) advance tax, if any, paid;

(ii) any tax deducted or collected at source (TDS) ;

(iii) any relief of tax allowed under section 90 on account of tax paid in a country outside India;

(iv) any relief of tax allowed under section 90A on account of tax paid in a specified territory outside India referred to in that section;

(v) any deduction, from the Indian income-tax payable, allowed under section 91, on account of tax paid in a country outside India; and

(vi) any tax credit allowed to be set off in accordance with the provisions of section 115JAA
The above provision can be better understand with the following example:

Tax on total income is : 500000

Advance tax Paid : 300000

Tax Deducted at source: 40000

Due date of filling of return is : 30^th Sep,2013

Actual Date of filling of return of income is: 15^th Jan,2014

Assesseeis liable to pay interest for a Period of 4 Months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan).

Amount on which Interest is payable:

Calculation of Interest Amount:

= 160000*1%*4

= Rs. 6400/-