AJIT K.SENGUPTA,J. - (1.) THIS reference under section 256 (1) of the Income -tax Act, 1961, relates to the assessment year 1981 -82. The short question which calls for determination in this reference is how the quantum of penalty under section 273 (1) (b) of the Income -tax Act, 1961, should be computed. Shortly stated, the facts are that, in the course of the assessment, proceedings, the Income -tax Officer found that the assessee did not file the statement of advance tax nor did it pay advance tax during the relevant accounting year. The Income -tax Officer, therefore, initiated penal proceedings under section 273 (2) (c) of the Income -tax Act, 1961, read with section 273 (sic) of the Act. In reply to the show -cause notice, the assessee submitted before the Income -tax Officer that it was a non -resident company and that the income accruing to it in India during the period comprised interest due from the bank on short -term deposit, interest due from Tata Finlay Ltd. and dividends received to be deducted at source from interest and dividends. It is further pointed out that tax calculated on the estimated income would be reduced by the amount of tax deductible at source and, therefore, the tax deductible at source was not required to be paid as advance tax whether or not such tax had actually been deducted by the payer. In the circumstances, it was under the impression that no estimate was required to be filed by it. The Income -tax Officer was of the view that the explanation offered by the assessee was not tenable in view of the fact that since there was no deduction of tax at source from bank interest, the assessee had the onus to furnish an estimate of advance tax and liability to pay advance tax on such income during the relevant accounting year which it failed to do. The Income -tax Officer computed the shortfall at Rs. 44,390 and imposed a minimum penalty of Rs. 4,439 under section 273 (2) (c) being 10% of the shortfall. Being aggrieved, the assessee filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income -tax (Appeal). The Commissioner of Income -tax (Appeals) observed that the Income -tax Officer wrongly applied section 273 (2) (c); the right section in this case to be applied was section 273 (1) (b) and he was of the view that unless the tax was deducted and paid to the credit of the Government, the benefit of section 209 (1) (a) (iii) of the Act in calculating advance tax liability could not be availed of. Since no tax was deducted by the bank from the interest income, the assessee was not correct in not filing the estimate under section 209 A. He therefore, confirmed the penalty order passed by the Income -tax Officer. Being aggrieved by this order of the Commissioner of Income -tax (Appeals), the assessee filed an appeal before the Tribunal. The Tribunal found that the Income -tax Officer imposed the minimum penalty at 10% of shortfall. According to the Tribunal, while doing so, the Income -tax Officer had not taken into account the tax deductible at source under sections 194 and 195 of the Incomes -tax Act, 1961. Tax deductible at source under sections 194 and 195 in respect of interest and dividend income from Tata Finlay Ltd. would have to be taken into account while computing the assessed tax as defined under section 215 (5) of the Act for the purpose of determining the quantum of minimum penalty impossible for the default falling under section 273 (1) (b). The Tribunal, therefore, directed the Income -tax Officer to recompute the quantum of minimum penalty impossible under section 273 (1) (b) by first determining the tax on the basis of the regular assessment and then reducing the tax by the amount of tax deductible in accordance with the provision of section 194 and 195 and then to redetermine the quantum of penalty at 10% if the shortfall. On these facts, the following questions of law have been referred to this court : '1. Whether, on facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was correct in law in holding that, for the purpose of determining the quantum of penalty leviable; under section 273 (1) (b) of the Income -tax Act, 1961, the amount of tax deductible at source under sections 194 and 195 of the said Act has to be taken into consideration in computing the assessed tax as defined under section 215 (5) of the said Act
(2.) WHETHER , on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was correct in law in directing the Income -tax Officer to recompute the quantum on minimum penalty imposable under section 273 (1) (b) of the Income -tax Act, 1961, by first determining the tax on the basis of the regular assessment and then reducing the tax by the amount of tax deductible in accordance with the provision of sections 194 and 195 of the said Act in respect of interest and dividend income from Tata Finlay Ltd. ?' At the hearing before us it has been contended by the Revenue that, in determining the assessed tax under section 215 (5) of the Act, the tax deductible at source under sections 194 and 195 cannot be taken into consideration. It is only the tax which has been deducted at source under sections 194 and 195 that can be taken into account in arriving at the assessed tax. On the other hand, the contention of counsel for the assessee is that the Tribunal has properly construed the word 'deductible' as appearing in section 215 (5) of the Act as well as in section 273 (1) (b) of the Act and that there is no infirmity in the order. To appreciate the contentions, it is necessary to set out the relevant provisions of the Act Section 273 (1) (b) provides that where an assessee has, without reasonable cause, failed to furnish a statement of the advance tax payable by him in accordance with the provision of clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 209A, he shall, in addition to the amount of tax, if any, payable by him, pay by way or penalty a sum which shall not be less than 10 per cent, but shall not exceed one and a half times of 75 per cent. (83 1/3 per cent. in the case of company assessee with effect from September 1, 1980) of the assessed tax as defined in sub -section (5) of section 215. Section 215 (5) defines 'assessed tax' : 'Assessed tax, means the tax determined on the basis of the regular assessment (reduced by the amount of tax deductible in accordance with the provision of section 192 to 194, section 194A, section 194C, section 194D and section 195) so far as it is not due to variations in the rates of tax made by the Finance Act enacted for the year for which the regular assessment is made.' Section 209 provides how the advance tax should be computed. First, the total income of the latest previous year in respect of which the assessee has been assessed by way of regular assessment of the total income as estimated shall be ascertained; thereafter, the amount of capital gains and other incomes referred to therein shall be deducted from the said total income and, on the balance, income -tax shall be calculated at the rates in force in the financial years in accordance with the provision of section 192 to 194, section 194A, section 194C, section 194D and section 195 on any income (as computed before allowing any deductions admissible under the Act) on which tax is required to be deducted under the said sections and which has been taken into account. The question, therefore, is what is the precise meaning of the words 'tax deductible' as appearing in section 215 (5). The definition of 'assessed tax' for the purpose of sections 215, 217 and 273 as given in section 215 (5) is not very simple. It proceeds in a circuitous way. If we consider the provision of section 209A which in turn refers to section 209 and section 215 (5), the income subject to advance tax has to be ascertained first and, on that income, the income -tax and surcharge on the income subject to advance tax at the rates applicable for the assessment years has to be calculated. Then comes the question of deduction from the amount of such tax the amount of tax is deductible in accordance with the provisions of sections 192 to 194, 194A, 194C, 194D and 195. In computing the advance tax payable, the tax deductible at source on the gross amount of income which subject to such deduction and which has been taken into account in computing the total income will be set off against the tax calculated on the income subject to advance tax and the balance will be advance tax payable. If, for example, Rs. 50,000 is the gross amount of interest, in that event, although the net amount of interest will be includible in the total income, the tax deductible at source on the entire gross amount of interest which has been taken into account in computing the total income will be deductible. The reason why the word 'deductible' is used in section 209 A or section 215 (5) is that there are special rates of deduction for the purpose of sections 192 to 195 in Part II of the First Schedule to the Finance Act. As such, the gross income under the head 'Interests and dividends' included in the said total income has to be ascertained and the tax deductible is to be computed on such income at the rate prescribed by the relevant Finance Act for the purpose of deduction of tax at source and this amount should be deducted from tax computed under the provisions of section 209 (1) (a) (iii). The assessee is not liable to pay any advance tax on the income which is subject to deduction of tax at source. The advance tax is paid in a financial year; the credit for the tax so paid in advance is given to the assessee at the time of regular assessment in the assessment year immediately following the year in which the advance tax is paid. It is, therefore, clear that tax deductible in the context of the 'relevant' provision means tax deducted at source. The amount of tax so deducted at source under the provisions of sections 192 to 195 is, so far as the affected person is concerned, to be treated as income received by him. For the purpose of computation of his total income, gross salary, gross dividend or gross interest, etc., i.e., the amount actually received plus the amount of tax is deducted at source, will have to be considered. We are, therefore, of the view that unless tax is deducted at source from the interest and dividend during the relevant previous year by the payer, the payee cannot claim the benefit of such deduction while filing the estimate of advance tax. Advance tax us payable an assessee during any financial year; he is not liable to pay any advance tax on any income which has already suffered tax during that financial year. We may mention that an assessee is liable to pay penalty under section 271 (1) (a) for failure to furnish the return of income or failure to furnish it within the time allowed. Then the penalty is calculated on the assessed tax. Assessed tax as defined in the Explanation to section 271 means tax is reduced by the sum, if any, deducted at source under Chapter XVII -B or paid in advance under Chapter XVII -C. Thus only if the tax is deducted at source or advance tax is paid, such tax is deducted from the tax determined on regular assessment. Section 1954 enjoins that the principle officer of an Indian company shall deduct at the time of making the payments, etc., of dividends (real or deemed) therefrom income -tax at the rates in force for the assessment year concerned. Irrespective of any tax ultimately found payable by the assessee, if he is entitled to any dividend on his shareholding in a company, the company is bound to deduct tax from the dividend payable to him at the rates in force. The assessee shall get credit for the amount so deducted. Similarly, section 195 imposes a statutory obligation on any person responsible for paying to a non -resident any interest (not being interest on securities) or any other sum (not being dividends) chargeable under the provisions of the Income -tax Act to deduct income -tax at the rates in force. It is, therefore, clear that the person paying has to deduct income -tax at the time of payment of interest to a non -resident. The obligation of the payer is to deduct the tax, whether it is dividend income or interest, and the assessee, the recipient, can only take the benefit of such deduction in his own assessment inasmuch as the tax so deducted will be to the credit of the recipient. It cannot be the intention of the Legislature that an assessee who receives dividend income without deduction of income -tax therefrom will still be entitled to the benefit of tax deductible on such income, although neither the payer nor the assessee as the recipient has paid any tax thereon. While making payment of advance tax, the assessee can take into account only those taxes which in fact have been deducted at source and not others. The Tribunal held that the assessee had the obligation to file a statement of advance tax under section 209A (1) (a) as no tax was deducted or paid in respect of interest income from the bank within the financial year. However, the Tribunal directed that the tax deductible at source y=under sections 194 and 195 in respect of interest and dividend income from Tata Finlay Ltd. will have to be taken into account while computing the 'assessed tax' as defined under section 215 (5) for the purpose of determining the quantum of minimum penalty imposable for the default falling under section 273 (1) (b). Accordingly, the Tribunal directed the Income -tax Officer to recompute the penalty by first determining the tax on the basis of the regular assessment and then reducing the tax by the amount of tax deductible in accordance with the provisions of sections 194 and 195 in respect of interest and dividend income from Tata Finlay Ltd. The Income -tax Officer was directed to redetermine the quantum of penalty at 10 per cent. of the shortfall. Since the order imposing penalty under section 273 was not in the file, we directed the Department to produce the records. The records have been produced. Counsel for the parties agreed that we should examine the records to ascertain the correct facts. From the records, it appears that the total income included the income from interest and dividend from Tata Finlay Ltd. The tax deducted at source from interest amounting to Rs. 54,863 and dividend of Rs. 30,000 aggregated to Rs. 84,863. After giving credit for the aforesaid amount of Rs. 84,863 and deducting the said amount from the tax determined at Rs. 1,38,134, a sum of Rs. 53,271 was found due and payable by the assessee. This amount was paid under section 140A on July 16, 1981. The Income -tax Officer, therefore calculated the penalty as follows. Rs. Tax payable as per original assessment : 53,271 83 1/3 per cent. thereof : 44,390 Advance tax paid : Nil Shortfall : 44,390 10 per cent. thereof : 4,439 In other words, tax deductible and deducted at source under sections 194 and 195 in respect of interest and dividend income from Tata Finlay Ltd. was taken into account while computing the assessed tax as defined under section 215 (5) for the purpose of determining the quantum of minimum penalty imposable for the default falling under section 273 (1) (b). Had the Tribunal examined the records, the matter would not have been remanded to the Income -tax Officer for recomputation of the penalty under section 273 of the Act, as the Income -tax Officer proceeded to levy penalty after giving credit for the tax which was not only deductible but which in fact was deducted within the financial year and the certificate of such deduction had also been filed before the Income -tax Officer. It is on record that although the assessee received interest of Rs. 75,094 from the banks, no tax was deducted on such interest and, accordingly, the question of benefit of tax deductible under sections 194 and 195, so far as the interest income from the bank is concerned, could not arise. The Tribunal rightly did not accept the assessees contention in that behalf. For the reasons aforesaid, the first question in this reference is answered by saying that tax deductible at source and deducted within the financial year under section 194 and 195 has to be taken into consideration in computing the 'assessed tax' as defined in section 215 (5) of the said Act. The second question is answered in the negative inasmuch as the Income -tax Officer computed the quantum of penalty correctly after allowing credit for the tax deducted at source under sections 194 and 195 in respect of interest and dividend income from Tata Finlay Ltd. There will be no order as to costs.;