The Income Tax Department has issued prosecution showcause notices to 859 deductors, including private entities, government agencies and public sector undertakings.
The Income Tax Department has initiated prosecution proceedings in cases where deductors have delayed the remittances of TDS made by them from the payees. Prosecution notices have been issued to the defaulters who have deducted tax from payees such as employees, professionals and contractors and delayed the remittances of tax.
In 48 cases, prosecution has been sanctioned and complaints filed in the Special Economic Offences Court, Bengaluru.
In 223 cases, deductors have filed applications for compounding of offences by paying apart from taxes, interest and penalty, 3 per cent per month from due date of payment of TDS to the actual date of payment of TDS amount as compounding fees and applicable compounding charges.
However, compounding applications of habitual defaulters and those who have pending demands to be paid have been rejected. In such cases, complaints have been filed in the Special Economic Offences Court.
In one case, the Special Economic Offences Court of Bangalore has convicted defaulters to three years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000 each for the delayed payment of TDS to the government account.