Implementation of Faceless Penalty Scheme 2021

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(Department of Revenue)

(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 12th January 2021

INCOME-TAX

S.O. 117(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2B) of section 274 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), for the purposes of giving effect to the Faceless Penalty Scheme, 2021 made under sub-section (2A) of section 274 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby makes the following directions, namely:__

1. The provisions of section 2, section 120, section 127, section 129, section 131, section 133, section 133C, section 136, and Chapter XXI of the said Act shall apply to the procedure for imposing penalty in accordance with the said Scheme subject to the following exceptions, modifications, and adaptations, namely:—

“(A). (1) The penalty shall be levied under the said Scheme as per the following procedure, namely:––

(i) where any income-tax authority or the National Faceless Assessment Centre has, in a case,—

(a) initiated penalty proceedings and issued a show-cause notice for the imposition of penalty; or

(b) recommended initiation of penalty proceedings, it shall refer such case, in the form specified in clause (viii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph 4, to the National Faceless Penalty Centre;

(ii) the National Faceless Penalty Centre shall in a case, where reference has been received as per clause (i), assign such case to a specific penalty unit in any one of the Regional Faceless Penalty Centres through an automated allocation system;

(iii) wherein a case assigned to a penalty unit, initiation of penalty proceedings has been recommended, such unit, after examination of the material available on record, may decide to,—

(a) agree with the recommendation and prepare a draft notice calling upon the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, to show cause as to why penalty should not be levied under the relevant provisions of the Act; or

(b) disagree with the recommendation, for reasons to be recorded in writing, and send such draft notice or the reasons, as the case may be, to the National Faceless Penalty Centre;

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(iv) the National Faceless Penalty Centre shall upon receipt of the draft notice or reasons referred to in clause (iii) from the penalty unit,—

(a) serve the show-cause notice, as per the draft referred to in sub-clause (a) of clause (iii), upon the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, specifying the date and time for filing a response; or

(b) not initiate penalty in cases referred to in sub-clause (b) of clause (iii);

(v) wherein the case assigned to a penalty unit, penalty proceedings are already initiated, such unit shall prepare a draft notice calling upon the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, to show cause as to why penalty should not be levied under the relevant provisions of the Act and send such notice to the National Faceless Penalty Centre;

(vi) the National Faceless Penalty Centre shall serve the show-cause notice, as per draft referred to in clause (v), upon the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, specifying the date and time for filing a response;

(vii) the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, shall file a response to the show-cause notice, referred to in sub-clause (a) of clause (iv) or in clause (vi), within the date and time specified therein, or such extended date and time as may be allowed on the basis of an application made in this behalf, with the National Faceless Penalty Centre;

(viii) where the response is filed by the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, the National Faceless Penalty Centre shall send such response to the penalty unit, and where no such response is filed, inform the penalty unit;

(ix) the penalty unit may make a request to the National Faceless Penalty Centre for –

(a) obtaining further information, documents or evidence from any income-tax authority or the National Faceless Assessment Centre; or

(b) obtaining further information, documents or evidence from the assessee or any other person; or

(c) seeking technical assistance or conducting verification;

(x) the National Faceless Penalty Centre shall, upon receipt of the request, referred to in sub-clauses (a) or (b) of clause (ix), issue appropriate notice or requisition to the income-tax authority or the National Faceless Assessment Centre or the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, to submit such information, documents or evidence, as may be specified by the penalty unit, specifying the date and time for furnishing a response;

(xi) the income-tax authority or the National Faceless Assessment Centre or the assessee or any other person, as the case may be, shall furnish a response to the notice or requisition, as referred to in clause

(x), within the date and time specified therein, or such extended date and time as may be allowed on the basis of an application made in this behalf, to the National Faceless Penalty Centre;

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