Traces is calculating Interest u/s 201(1A) on a wrong footing. Section 210(1A) states as under :
“(1A) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), if any such person, principal officer or company as is referred to in that sub-section does not deduct the whole or any part of the tax or after deducting fails to pay the tax as required by or under this Act, he or it shall be liable to pay simple interest, -
(i) at one per cent for every month or part of a month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deductible to the date on which such tax is deducted; and
(ii) at one and one-half per cent for every month or part of a month on the amount of such tax from the date on which such tax was deducted to the date on which such tax is actually paid.
It is clear from Sec 201(1A)(ii) that the interest should be calculated from the date of deduction to the date of payment and it is to be converted to months, e,g, if delay is for less than 30 days (a month) even 1 day 1 month interest and if it is more than 30 days but less than 60 days : 2 months and so on.
The Traces is calculating interest on month to month basis. E.g. even if TDS was deducted on 31.05.13 and paid on 08.06.13 (due date is 07.06.13), interest is being charged for 2 months instead of 1 month as per statute.
Had the intention of the Statute had been to demand tax on monthly basis, the wording should have been “from the month in which such tax was deducted to the month in which such tax is actually paid”.
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