Equalisation Levy

 
Charge of equalisation levy.
Section 165 . (1) On and from the date of commencement of this Chapter, there shall be charged an equalisation levy at the rate of six per cent of the amount of consideration for any specified service received or receivable by a person, being a non-resident from—
(i) a person resident in India and carrying on business or profession; or
(ii) a non-resident having a permanent establishment in India.
(2) The equalisation levy under sub-section (1) shall not be charged, where—
(a) the non-resident providing the specified service has a permanent establishment in India and the specified service is effectively connected with such permanent establishment;
(b) the aggregate amount of consideration for specified service received or receivable in a previous year by the non-resident from a person resident in India and carrying on business or profession, or from a non-resident having a permanent establishment in India, does not exceed one lakh rupees; or
(c) where the payment for the specified service by the person resident in India, or the permanent establishment in India is not for the purposes of carrying out business or profession.



Collection and recovery of equalisation levy.
Section 166 . (1) Every person, being a resident and carrying on business or profession or a non-resident having a permanent establishment in India (here in this Chapter referred to as assessee) shall deduct the equalisation levy from the amount paid or payable to a non-resident in respect of the specified service at the rate specified in section 165, if the aggregate amount of consideration for specified service in a previous year exceeds one lakh rupees.
(2) The equalisation levy so deducted during any calendar month in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be paid by every assessee to the credit of the Central Government by the seventh day of the month immediately following the said calendar month.
(3) Any assessee who fails to deduct the levy in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, notwithstanding such failure, be liable to pay the levy to the credit of the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2).

Furnishing of statement.
Section 167 . (1) Every assessee shall, within the prescribed time after the end of each financial year, prepare and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Assessing Officer or to any other authority or agency authorised by the Board in this behalf, a statement in such form, verified in such manner and setting forth such particulars as may be prescribed, in respect of all specified services during such financial year.
(2) An assessee who has not furnished the statement within the time prescribed under sub-section (1) or having furnished a statement under sub-section (1), notices any omission or wrong particular therein, may furnish a statement or a revised statement, as the case may be, at any time before the expiry of two years from the end of the financial year in which the specified service was provided.
(3) Where any assessee fails to furnish the statement under sub-section (1) within the prescribed time, the Assessing Officer may serve a notice upon such assessee requiring him to furnish the statement in the prescribed form, verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such particulars, within such time, as may be prescribed.

Processing of statement.
Section 168. (1) Where a statement has been made under section 167 by the assessee, such statement shall be processed in the following manner, namely:—
(a) the equalisation levy shall be computed after making the adjustment for any arithmetical error in the statement;
(b) the interest, if any shall be computed on the basis of sum deductible as computed in the statement;
(c) the sum payable by, or the amount of refund due to, the assessee shall be determined after adjustment of the amount computed under clause (b) against any amount paid under sub-section (2) of section 166 or section 170 and any amount paid otherwise by way of tax or interest;
(d) an intimation shall be prepared or generated and sent to the assessee specifying the sum determined to be payable by, or the amount of refund due to, him under clause (c); and
(e) the amount of refund due to the assessee in pursuance of the determination under clause (c) shall be granted to him:
Provided that no intimation under this sub-section shall be sent after the expiry of one year from the end of the financial year in which the statement is furnished.
(2) For the purposes of processing of statements under sub-section (1), the Board may make a scheme for centralised processing of such statements to expeditiously determine the tax payable by, or the refund due to, the assessee as required under that sub-section.


Interest on delayed payment of equalisation levy.
Section 170. Every assessee, who fails to credit the equalisation levy or any part thereof as required under section 166 to the account of the Central Government within the period specified in that section, shall pay simple interest at the rate of one per cent of such levy for every month or part of a month by which such crediting of the tax or any part thereof is delayed.

Penalty for failure to deduct or pay equalisation levy.
Section 171. Any assessee who—
(a) fails to deduct the whole or any part of the equalisation levy as required under section 166; or
(b) having deducted the equalisation levy, fails to pay such levy to the credit of the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of that section,
shall be liable to pay,—
(i) in the case referred to in clause (a), in addition to paying the levy in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (3) of that section, or interest, if any, in accordance with the provisions of section 170, a penalty equal to the amount of equalisation levy that he failed to deduct; and
(ii) in the case referred to in clause (b), in addition to paying the levy in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of that section and interest in accordance with the provisions of section 170, a penalty of one thousand rupees for every day during which the failure continues, so, however, that the penalty under this clause shall not exceed the amount of equalisation levy that he failed to pay.

Penalty for failure to furnish statement.
Section 172. Where an assessee fails to furnish the statement within the time prescribed under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 167, he shall be liable to pay a penalty of one hundred rupees for each day during which the failure continues.


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