Know the cost of missing tax deadlines: Income tax penalty

Taxes help fund government operations, support public welfare, maintain infrastructure, uphold legal obligations, promote economic balance, ensure societal progress, and fulfil civic responsibility. As a responsible taxpayer, you must file income tax returns (ITR) and pay taxes before the due date. However, sometimes, you may m-iss the deadline and pay taxes late. The Income Tax department penalises late tax payments. The penalty is a percentage of the unpaid tax amount and can increase the total amount you owe to the government.

Late filing penalty
 

As per Section 234F of the Income Tax Act, 1961, if your total income exceeds Rs 5 lakh, you will face a Rs 5000 penalty for filing late. If your income is up to Rs 5 lakh, the late filing penalty is Rs 1000.

If you submit your income tax return after the due date, there's more than just a penalty to worry about. Under Section 234A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, you can be charged a 1% interest rate per month on the outstanding tax amount. This extra cost keeps adding up until you file your taxes.

When calculating interest charges, part of a month counts as a full month. For example, if you are late by 4 months and 10 days, those extra 10 days will be counted as a whole month. So, you will pay interest for 5 months, not 4 months and 10 days.

Interest calculation under section 234A

The interest under this section is calculated from the tax amount determined under Section 143(1).

Let's say your tax liability for the financial year 2022-23 is Rs. 10,000. You must file your ITR by July 31, 2023. However, you file it on December 31, 2023. In this case, you would face an income tax penalty. Let's break down the calculation.

●       Unpaid tax amount: Rs. 10,000

●       Interest rate: 1% per month

●       Delayed time: 5 months

●       The interest penalty would be Rs. 10,000 x 1% x 5 = Rs. 500

So, in addition to the original tax liability, you would also have to pay an additional penalty of Rs. 500. 

How to avoid penalties?

●       Timely filing: The longer you wait, the higher the penalties climb. So, file your ITR by the deadline. Mark your calendar well in advance of the due date. Use reminders on your phone, or go old school with sticky notes.

●       Tax estimation: Project your tax obligations roughly based on your usual payments. After the estimation, you can set aside a small portion of your income each month. By the deadline, you will have the full amount ready for payment.

●       Accurate information: Inaccuracy can result in income tax penalties or other action. So, always double-check your income, deductions, and credits beforehand to catch errors you didn't notice the first time.

●       Use the right platforms to pay taxes: Choose government-approved software or bank's online platforms for all your ITR filing needs. This guarantees security, prevents potential scams, and ensures your data remains confidential. Unofficial channels may lack security, expose you to scams, and jeopardise your data privacy.

Having a savings account with net-banking and value-added features can simplify the entire process. Take, for example, IDFC FIRST Bank Savings Accounts, which come in different variants with benefits beyond just tax filing. These perks include monthly interest credits, high-interest rates, cashbacks, and special offers on debit cards.

Penalties for late income tax payments can be hefty. But if you take the right steps, they are avoidable. File your returns timely, correct any errors, and stay updated on your account status. When in doubt, consult a tax advisor. They offer insights that could help you avoid pitfalls and save money. These steps can help prevent unnecessary drains on your income and contribute responsibly toward nation-building through tax compliance.

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