Penalty for late filing of vat returns.

This query is : Resolved

CA Kintal Shah (Querist)
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25 August 2012 with respect to the amendment in MahaVAT as:

Amendment of section 20 of Mah IX of 2005

In section 20 of the Value Added Tax Act, after sub-section (5), the following sub-section shall be added, namely :-

"(6) Where a person or a dealer fails to file a return within the prescribed time, as provided under this section, then the said person or dealer shall, before filing of the said return, pay, by way of late fee, an amount of rupees five thousand. This amount shall be in addition to any other amount payable, if any, as per return."

My question is
1. Is penalty is required to be paid if VAT liability is NIL?
2. Is it possible to file manual return? for the year 2010, 2011 and 2012 also?

Any other way to avoid penalty if at all this is applicable?

Thank you