Section 63 - Insertion of new sections 272A and 272B - Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1975

63. Insertion of new sections 272A and 272B. After section 272 of the Income-tax Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely: 272A. Penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, allow inspections, etc. (1) If a person, (a) being legally bound to state the truth of any matter touching the subject of his assessment, refuses to answer any question demanded of him by an Income-tax Officer or an Appellate Assistant Commissioner or an Inspecting Assistant Commissioner or a Commissioner in the exercise of his powers under this Act; or (b) refuses to sign any statement made by him in the course of any proceeding under this Act which an Income-tax Officer or an Appellate Assistant Commissioner or an Inspecting Assistant . Commissioner or a Commissioner may legally require him to sign, he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which may extend to one thousand rupees. (2) If a person, without reasonable cause or excuse, fails, (a) to furnish in due time any of the returns or statements mentioned in section 133, section 206, section 285, section 285B or section 286; or (b) to allow inspection of any register referred to in section 134 or of any entry in such register or to allow copies of such register or of any entry therein to be taken; or (c) to furnish a certificate as required by section 203; or (d) to deduct and pay tax as required by sub-section (2) of section 226, he shall pay, by way of penalty, a sum which may extend to ten rupees for every day during which the failure continues. (3) Any penalty imposable under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be imposed, (a) in a case where the contravention, failure or default in respect of which such penalty is imposable occurs in the course of any proceeding before the Commissioner or the Appellate Assistant Commissioner, by the Commissioner or, as the case may be, the Appellate Assistant Commissioner; and (b) in any other case, by the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner. (4) No order under this section shall be passed by any officer referred to in sub-section (3) unless the person on whom the penalty is proposed to be imposed is given an opportunity of being heard in the matter by such officer. 272B. Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 139A. (1) If a person, without reasonable cause, fails to comply j with the provisions of section 139A, he shall, on an order passed by the Income-tax Officer, pay, by way of penalty, a sum which may f extend to five hundred rupees. (2) No order under sub-section (2) shall be passed unless the person on whom the penalty is proposed to be imposed is given an opportunity of being heard in the matter. .