Clarification regarding advance tax while filing Updated Return-Budget 2023
The Finance Act, 2022 inserted sub-section (8A) in section 139 of the Act enabling the furnishing of an updated return by taxpayers up to two years from the end of the relevant assessment year subject to fulfilment of certain conditions as well as payment of additional tax. For the determination of the amount of additional tax on such updated return section 140B was inserted in the Act.
The sub-section (4) of the section 140B of the Act provides for the computation of interest under section 234B of the Act on the tax on updated return. The said sub-section (4) provides that interest payable under section 234B of the Act shall be computed on an amount equal to the assessed tax or the amount by which the advance tax paid falls short of the assessed tax. This implied that interest was payable only on the difference of the assessed tax and advance tax. Further, the sub-clause (i) of the clause (a) of the said subsection also provides advance tax which has been claimed in earlier return of income shall
be taken into account for computing the amount on which the interest was to be paid.
Therefore, in order to clarify the provisions of the sub-section (4) of section 140B of the Act, an amendment has been proposed in the said sub-section that interest payable under section 234B shall be computed on an amount equal to the assessed tax as reduced by the amount of advance tax, the credit for which has been claimed in the earlier return, if any.
This amendment will take effect retrospectively from the 1st day of April, 2022.
