" Whether he has to file NIL return or not to file any return In the second case, if he does not file any return, whether the department can initiate the penalty for non filing of return"
I will repeat: Quoting the paragraphs from the attached file as downloaded from the departmental site:
" Basic provisions
"As per Section 285BA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (as substituted by Finance Act, 2014 w.e.f 01-04-2015), specified entities (Filers) are required to furnish a statement of financial transaction or reportable account (hereinafter referred to as ‘statement’) in respect of specified financial transactions or any reportable account registered/recorded/maintained by them during the financial year to the income-tax authority or such other prescribed authority"
" Transactions that are required to be reported
The statement of financial transaction shall be furnished by every person mentioned in column (3) of the Table below in respect of all the transactions of the nature and value specified in the corresponding entry in column (2) of the said table, which are registered or recorded by him on or after the 1st day of April, 2016, namely:-"
" Further, the statement shall be furnished on or before 31st May immediately following the financial year in which the transaction is registered or recorded"
" However, section 285BA(5) empower the tax authorities to issue a notice to the person who had not filed the statement within due date. In such a case, the tax authorities may serve upon such person a notice requiring him to furnish the statement within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of service of such notice and in such a case the person shall furnish the statement within the time as specified in the notice"
Final interpretation: If any of such transaction is recorded by assessee, he must mandatorily file the SFT in form 61a.
In case, there are no such reportable transaction, and as such report not filed, but received any intimation/notice in writing for reporting any such transaction, issued by the Tax authority, then reply to the notice accordingly within time specified in the notice in writing. But for e-mail received as such, just be attentive for any such reporting, if applicable. Otherwise just furnish details under section 'complience' subsection: 'SFT preliminary Response.'