CBDT issues norms for launching Prosecution under Direct Tax Laws

The Central Board of Direct Taxes ( CBDT )vide circular No. 24/2019 dated 09/.09/2019 has issued norms for identification and processing of cases for prosecution under Direct Tax Laws. 

The prosecution is a criminal proceeding. Therefore, based upon evidence gathered, offence and crime as defined in the relevant provision of the Act, the offence has to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. To ensure that only deserving cases get prosecuted the Central Board of Direct Taxes in exercise of powers under section 119 of the Act lays down the following criteria for launching prosecution in respect of the following categories of offences. 

i. Offences u/s 276B: Failure to pay tax to the credit of Central Government under Chapter XII-D or XVII-B. 

Cases where non-payment of tax deducted at source is Rs. 25 Lakhs or below, and the delay in the deposit is less than 60 days from the due date, shall not be processed for prosecution in normal circumstances. In case of exceptional cases like habitual defaulters, based on particular facts and circumstances of each case, prosecution may be initiated only with the previous administrative approval of the Collegium of two CCIT/DGIT rank officers as mentioned in Para 3. 

ii. Offences u/s 276BB: Failure to pay the tax collected at source. 

Same approach as in Para 2.i above. 

iii. Offences u/s 276C(1): Wilful attempt to evade tax, etc. 

Cases where the amount sought to be evaded or tax on under-reported income is Rs. 25 Lakhs or below, shall not be processed for prosecution except with the previous administrative approval of the Collegium of two CCIT/DGIT rank officers as mentioned in Para 3. Further, prosecution under this section shall be launched only after the confirmation of the order imposing a penalty by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. 

iv. Offences u/s 276CC: 

Failure to furnish returns of income. Cases where the amount of tax, which would have been evaded if the failure had not been discovered, is Rs. 25 Lakhs or below, shall not be processed for prosecution except with the previous administrative approval of the Collegium of two CCIT/DGIT rank officers as mentioned in Para 3. 

For the purposes of this Circular, the constitution of the Collegium of two CCIT/DGIT rank officers would mean the following- 

As per section 279(1) of the Act, the sanctioning authority for offences under Chapter XXII is the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner or Commissioner (Appeals) or the appropriate authority. For proper examination of facts and circumstances of a case, and to ensure that only deserving cases below the threshold limit as prescribed in Annexure get selected for filing of prosecution complaint, such sanctioning authority shall seek the prior administrative approval of a collegium of two CCIT/DGIT rank officers, including the CCIT/DGIT in whose jurisdiction the case lies. The Principal CCIT(CCA) concerned may issue directions for a pairing of CCsIT/DGIT for this purpose. In case of disagreement between the two CCIT/DGIT rank officers of the collegium, the matter will be referred to the Principal CCIT(CCA) whose decision will be final. In the event that the Pr.CCIT(CCA) is one of the two officers of the collegium, in case of disagreement the decision of the Pr.CCIT(CCA) will be final.

Read more at: https://www.taxscan.in/cbdt-issues-norms-launching-prosecution-direct-tax-laws/37972/