Late fee and penalty for filing late return - Section 70(1), as amended by Finance Act, 2007 w.e.f. 11-5-2007, makes provision for late filing of return with late fee which can be upto Rs 2,000. Late fee payable will be prescribed by Central Government by issuing a notification. The late fee payable is as follows – (a) Delay Upto 15 days – Rs 500 (b) Beyond 15 days and upto 30 days – Rs 1,000 (b) Delay beyond 30 days – Rs 1,000 plus Rs 100 per day of delay beyond 30 days, from 31st day maximum Rs 2,000- rule 7C inserted w.e.f. 12-5-2007.
Department is required to accept late return even if late fee is not paid – In case of returns filed late, the appropriate late fees should be paid at the time of filing the return, without waiting for any communication or notice from the department. Mere non-submission of evidence of payment of late fee along with the return is, however, not a ground for refusal to allow filing of the return – para 6.4 of CBE&C Circular No. 97/8/2007-ST dated 23-8-2007.
Regards