The Income Tax Department of India wants to make advance tax payment convenient and easy for its taxpayers. For the same, it provides the option of paying advance tax in four installments during one financial year. However, if one still defaults, then there the income tax department may impose interest penalty under Section 234C of the Income Tax Act. Basically, Section 234C is one of the three parts of Section 234 under which the interest is imposed by the Income Tax department.
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The IT department wants on-time payment of the taxes by taxpayers; otherwise, it may charge interest on the late payments when one files income tax returns. The advance tax can be paid on the below-mentioned dates:
Before or On |
In the situation when all the taxpayers other than taxpayer choosing presumptive income under section 44AD |
The taxpayers choosing presumptive income under section 44AD |
June 15th |
Up to 15percent of the payable advance tax |
NIL |
September 15th |
Up to 45 percent of the payable advance tax |
NIL |
December 15th |
Up to 74 percent of the payable advance tax |
NIL |
March 15th |
Up to 100 percent of the payable advance tax |
Up to 100 percent of payable advance tax |
The interest for late payment of the advance tax is set as 1 percent of the total due amount. This amount is calculated from the above mentioned cut-off dates to the actual payment of the taxes that are outstanding.
Interest calculation under Section 234C when the taxpayer other than the one who is opting for presumptive income under Section 44AD:
|
Interest Rate |
Interest Period |
Amount of Interest Calculation |
If the paid advance tax on or before 15th June is less than 15% of the total payable amount* |
Simple interest is applied at the rate of 1% each month |
3 months |
15% of the Amount* (-) minus the tax amount that is deposited before 15th June |
If the paid advance tax on or before 15th September is less than 45% of the total payable amount* |
Simple interest is applied at the rate of 1% each month |
3 months |
45% of the Amount* (-) minus the tax amount that is deposited before 15th September |
If the paid advance tax on or before 15th December is less than 75% of the total payable amount* |
Simple interest is applied at the rate of 1% each month |
3 months |
75% of the Amount* (-) minus the tax amount that is deposited before 15th December |
If the paid advance tax on or before 15th March is less than 100% of the total payable amount* |
Simple interest is applied at the rate of 1% each month |
- |
100% of the Amount* (-) minus the tax amount that is deposited before 15th March |
Here the amount on which the % of the advance tax is needed to be calculated = Tax on the Total Income (minus) TDS (minus) relief under section 90 or 91 (minus) tax credit under section 115JD.
Note: Some of the points to be noted here are:
Let us assume that the total tax liability of an individual for a financial year is Rs.100, 000 and it is required to be paid in installments as mentioned in the above tables. However, we are assuming that there is no deduction of TDS here.
If one makes partial payments, then he/she is liable to pay the interest according to the last column of the below table:
Date of Payment |
Payable Advance Tax |
Total Paid Advance Tax |
Cumulative Shortfall |
Cumulative Penalties |
June 15th |
15, 000 |
5, 000 |
10, 000 |
1% * 3 * 10, 000 = 300 |
September 15th |
45, 000 |
20, 000 |
25, 000 |
1% * 3 *25, 000 = 750 |
December 15th |
75, 000 |
40, 000 |
35, 000 |
1% * 3 * 35, 000 = 1050 |
March 15th |
1, 00, 000 |
50, 000 |
50, 000 |
1% * 1 * 50, 000 = 500 |
Total Payable Interest = Rs.2600