In a recent update, a woman was recently convicted by a court and sentenced to six months in jail for failing to file an income tax return (ITR) on an income of Rs 2 crore.
Six Months Jail To Savitri For Not Filing Income Tax
Savitri was sentenced by the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mayank Mittal after considering submissions and reviewing the facts of the case.
In the order dated March 4, the judge stated “The convict is awarded a sentence of simple imprisonment for six months with a fine of Rs 5,000 and in default to undergo simple imprisonment for one month.”
After considering her application, the court further granted her 30 days’ bail to challenge the order.
How Did This Happen?
The case revolves around a complaint filed by the Income Tax Office (ITO), alleging that the accused had received Rs 2 crore during the financial year 2013-14, against which a tax deducted at source (TDS) amounting to Rs 2 lakh should have been deducted.
Although, the accused or assessee has not filed the return of income for the assessment year 2014–15.
The whole purpose of the provision was deterrence among the persons liable to pay the tax to file their return of income in time and to pay the tax accordingly, submitted by the special public prosecutor, Arpit Batra before the court.
Further adding that a maximum amount of imprisonment should be awarded to the convict and a substantial amount of fine should also be imposed.
Moreover, the prosecution noted that a letter on Sept 11, 2017, was issued by ITO to the convict for verification of data on whether an ITR was filed for the assessment year 2014– 15 or not.
In response to this, the accused failed to file a reply.
After that a notice dated Jan 10, 2018, was issued to the accused with directions to furnish the return of the assessment year 2014–15.
For this also, no compliance was made by the assessee or accused.
This latest sentence from court will definitely give the necessary push to taxpayers to declare their “real” income.
