Notices for initiating Penalty proceedings under the various provisions of the Income tax Act, 1961 etc may or may not be issued simultaneously with the Income tax assessment orders wherein adjustments (addition / disallowances) have been made in income offered to tax in the return of income and consequently liability / demands has been created against the assessee.

Penalty notices can be issued under any one or more of these provisions :

• Notice for initiating penalty under Chapter XXI
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 221 for Penalty payable when tax in default
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 270A for Penalty for under-reporting and misreporting of income
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271 for Failure to furnish returns, comply with notices, concealment of income, etc
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271A for Failure to keep, maintain or retain books of account, documents, etc
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271AA for Penalty for failure to keep and maintain information and document, etc., in respect of certain transactions
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271AAA for Penalty where search has been initiated.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271AAB for Penalty where search has been initiated.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271AAC for Penalty in respect of certain income.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271AAD for Penalty for false entry, etc., in books of account.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271B for Failure to get accounts audited.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271BA for Penalty for failure to furnish report under section 92E.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271BB for Failure to subscribe to the eligible issue of capital.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271C for Penalty for failure to deduct tax at source.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271CA for Penalty for failure to collect tax at source.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271D for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269SS
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271DA for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269ST
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271DB for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269SU.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271E for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 269T.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271F for Penalty for failure to furnish return of income
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271FA for Penalty for failure to furnish statement of financial transaction or reportable account
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271FAA for Penalty for furnishing inaccurate statement of financial transaction or reportable account
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271FAB for Penalty for failure to furnish statement or information or document by an eligible investment fund.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271FB for Penalty for failure to furnish return of fringe benefits.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271G Penalty for failure to furnish information or document under section 92D.
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271GA for Penalty for failure to furnish information or document under section 285A
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271GB for Penalty for failure to furnish report or for furnishing inaccurate report under section 286
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271H for Penalty for failure to furnish statements, etc
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271-I for Penalty for failure to furnish information or furnishing inaccurate information under section 195
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271J for Penalty for furnishing incorrect information in reports or certificates
• Notice for initiating penalty under section 271K for Penalty for failure to furnish statements, etc
• Notice for initiating penalty 272A for Penalty for failure to answer questions, sign statements, furnish information, returns or statements, allow inspections, etc
• Notice for initiating penalty 272AA for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 133B
• Notice for initiating penalty 272B for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 139A
• Notice for initiating penalty 272BB for Penalty for failure to comply with the provisions of section 203A
• Notice for initiating penalty 273 for False estimate of, or failure to pay, advance tax
• Notice for initiating penalty 158BFA(2) for Levy of interest and penalty in certain cases

In cases where the taxpayer denies the liability to be assessed under Income Tax Act as per the income tax assessment order, can file an first appeal against the order before the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) being the first appellate authority.

Each Penalty notice issued under any of the provisions of the Income tax Act, 1961 need to be responded separately to avoid adverse consequences of further Prosecutions etc..

Penalty Notices issued after finalization of Income tax assessment order need to be handled differently in the following two exhaustive situations:

• In cases where the taxpayer DENIES the liability to be assessed under Income Tax Act:- In this case, besides filing appeal against the income tax assessment Orders, the appropriate reply to be filed before the assessing officer within the specified time and date informing the assessing officer about filing of appeal before the higher authorities i.e. the first appeal against the order before the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) being the first appellate authority and to explain as to why penalty in his / her case should not be imposed.


• In cases where the taxpayer ACCEPTS the liability to be assessed under Income Tax Act:- In this case if the person accepts the demand /additions / adjustment made by the officer, the appropriate reply to be filed before the assessing officer within the specified time and date so as to justify and put forth the submissions as to why the penalty is not imposable on the adjustments (addition / disallowances) made in income offered to tax in the return of income because assessment proceedings and penalty proceedings are altogether two different proceedings and accepting the demand /additions / adjustment made by the officer does not mean mandatory imposition of penalty as well.

Non compliance of Penalty notices for initiating penalty proceedings issued simultaneously with assessment order may also lead to imposition of Penalty as well along with demands created on finalization of assessment order.

Thus, Penalty order imposing penalties if not handled separately, doubles the burden of the taxpayer.