Payment of Interest can be made in installments

Last updated: 23 January 2024

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Quick Summary

The Madras High Court has ruled that businesses can pay outstanding interest charges in instalments. In a case involving Everyday Banking and Retail Assets, the court acknowledged that the petitioner had settled all tax dues but needed time to pay the interest due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business. Consequently, the court permitted the interest to be paid over three equal monthly instalments.

Court :
Madras High Court

Brief :
The Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case ofEveryday Banking and Retail Assets v. Office of the Assistant Commissioner (ST) [Writ Petition No. 35372 OF 2023 January 03, 2024] held that the Petitioner asserts that all tax dues were settled and that the Petitioner requires time to pay interest. Thus, the Petitioner was allowed to pay interest in respect of four assessment years vide caution notice because the business of the assessee was to be directed to pay amounts of interest demanded in three equal monthly installments.

Citation :
Writ Petition No. 35372 OF 2023 January 03, 2024

The Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case ofEveryday Banking and Retail Assets v. Office of the Assistant Commissioner (ST) [Writ Petition No. 35372 OF 2023 January 03, 2024] held that the Petitioner asserts that all tax dues were settled and that the Petitioner requires time to pay interest. Thus, the Petitioner was allowed to pay interest in respect of four assessment years vide caution notice because the business of the assessee was to be directed to pay amounts of interest demanded in three equal monthly installments.

Facts

Everyday Banking and Retail Assets ("the Petitioner") were issued a caution notice ("the Impugned Notice") to pay interest in respect of the Assessment Years2017-18 to 2020-21.The Petitioner hadpaid all the tax dues but required time to pay interest since the Petitioner's business was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

The Assistant Commissioner ("the Respondent") required interest payments to be made expeditiously.

Hence, aggrieved by the Impugned Notice the present writ was filed by the Petitioner.

Issue

Whether payment of interest can be made in installments?

Held

The Madras High Court in Writ Petition No. 35372 of 2023 held as under:

Observed that, the Petitioner asserts that all tax dues were settled and that the Petitioner requires time to pay interest.
Held that, the Petitioner pay the amounts demanded in the Impugned Notice in three equal monthly installments. Hence, the Petition was closed.

FAQ :

Yes, the Madras High Court has held that interest payments can be made in instalments, provided there are valid reasons such as business disruption.

The Madras High Court ruled that the petitioner could pay the demanded interest amounts in three equal monthly instalments.

The petitioner was allowed to pay interest in instalments because they had settled all tax dues and their business had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring more time to pay the interest.

The interest payment order covered the assessment years 2017-18 to 2020-21.