Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 — Section 204: Power to tender immunity from prosecution

204. Power to tender immunity from prosecution.— (1) The 1[Board with the approval of the Minister-in-charge] may, for the purpose of obtaining the evidence of any person appearing to have been directly or indirectly concerned in, or privy to the concealment of income or to the evasion of tax, tender to such person immunity from prosecution for any offence under this Ordinance or under the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), or under any other Federal Law on condition of the person making full and true disclosure of the whole circumstances relating to the concealment of income or evasion of tax. 1 The words “Federal Government” substituted by the Finance Act, 2021. 410 Chapter X – Procedure

(2)A tender of immunity made to, and accepted by, the person concerned shall render the person immune from prosecution for any offence in respect of which the tender was made and to the extent specified in the immunity.

(3)If it appears to the 1[Board with the approval of the Minister-in-charge] that any person to whom immunity has been tendered under this section has not complied with the conditions on which the tender was made or is concealing anything or giving false evidence, the 2[Board with the approval of the Minister-in charge] may withdraw the immunity, and any such person may be tried for the offence in respect of which the tender of immunity was made or for any other offence of which the person appears to have been guilty in connection with the same matter. PART XII 3 [DEFAULT SURCHARGE] 205. 4[Default surcharge]. — (1) A person who fails to pay – 5[(a) any tax, excluding the advance tax under section 147 and 6[default surcharge]under this section;]

(b)any penalty; or

(c)any amount referred to in section 140 or 141, 1 The words “Federal Government” substituted by the Finance Act, 2021. 2 The words “Federal Government” substituted by the Finance Act, 2021. 3 The words “ADDITIONAL TAX” substituted by the Finance Act, 2010. The substituted provision has been made effective from 05.06.2010 by sub-clause (77) of clause 8 of the Finance Act, 2010. Earlier the substitution was made through Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2009 which was re promulgated as Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 and remained effective till 05.06.2010. 4 The words “Additional tax” substituted by the Finance Act, 2010. The substituted provision has been made effective from 05.06.2010 by sub-clause (77) of clause 8 of the Finance Act, 2010. Earlier the substitution was made through Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2009 which was re-promulgated as Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 and remained effective till 05.06.2010. 5 Substituted by the Finance Act, 2003. The substituted clause (a) read as follows: “(a) any tax, including any advance payment of tax under section 147;” 6 The words “additional tax” substituted by the Finance Act, 2010. The substituted provision has been made effective from 05.06.2010 by sub-clause (77) of clause 8 of the Finance Act, 2010. Earlier the substitution was made through Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2009 which was re-promulgated as Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 and remained effective till 05.06.2010. 411 Chapter X – Procedure on or before the due date for payment shall be liable for 1[default surcharge] at a rate equal to 2[ ] 3[ ] 4[twelve percent or KIBOR plus three percent per annum, whichever is higher] on the tax, penalty or other amount unpaid computed for the period commencing on the date on which the tax, penalty or other amount was due and ending on the date on which it was paid [:] 5[Provided that if the person opts to pay the tax due on the basis of an order under section 129 on or before the due date given in the notice under sub section (2) of section 137 issued in consequence of the said order, and does not file an appeal under section 131, he shall not be liable to pay default surcharge for the period beginning from the due date of payment in consequence of an order appealed against to the date of payment in consequence of notice under sub-section (2) of section 137.] 6[(1A) A person who fails to pay advance tax under section 147 shall be liable for 7[default surcharge] at a rate equal to 8[ ] 9[ ] 10[twelve percent or KIBOR plus three percent per annum, whichever is higher] on the amount of tax unpaid computed for the period commencing on the date on which it was due and ending on the date on which it was paid or date on which the return of income for the relevant tax year was due, whichever is earlier.] 11[(1B) Where, in respect of any tax year, any taxpayer fails to pay tax under sub-section 12[(4A), or] (6) of section 147 or the tax so paid is less than 13[ninety] per cent of the tax chargeable for the relevant tax year, he shall be liable to pay Chapter X – Procedure 1[default surcharge]at the rate of 2[ ] 3[ ] 4[twelve percent or KIBOR plus three percent per annum, whichever is higher] on the amount of tax so chargeable or the amount by which the tax paid by him falls short of the 5[ninety] per cent, as the case may be; and such 6[default surcharge] shall be calculated from the first day of April in that year to the date on which assessment is made or the thirtieth day of June of the financial year next following, whichever is the earlier 7[:] 8[“Provided that in the case of person having a special tax year, the default surcharge shall be calculated on and from the first day of the fourth quarter of the special tax year till the date on which assessment is made or the last day of special tax year, whichever is earlier.”;]

(2)Any 9[default surcharge] paid by a person under sub-section (1) shall be refunded to the extent that the tax, penalty or other amount to which it relates is held not to be payable.

(3)A person who fails to 10[collect tax, as required under Division II of Part V of this Chapter or Chapter XII or deduct tax as required under Division III of Part V of this Chapter or Chapter XII or fails to] pay an amount of tax collected or deducted as required under section 160 on or before the due date for payment Chapter X – Procedure shall be liable for 1[default surcharge] at a rate equal to 2[ ] 3[ ] 4[twelve percent or KIBOR plus three percent per annum, whichever is higher] on the amount unpaid computed for the period commencing on the date the amount was required to be collected or deducted and ending on the date on which it was paid to the Commissioner 5[:] 6[Provided that if the person opts to pay the tax due on thebasis of an order under section 129 on or before the due date given in the notice under sub-section (2) of section 137 issued in consequence of the said order and does not file an appeal under section 131, he shall not be liable to pay default surcharge for the period beginning from the date of order under section 161 to the date of payment.] 7[ ]

(5)The Commissioner shall make an assessment of any 8[default surcharge]imposed under this Part in accordance with the provisions of Part II of this Chapter as if the 9[default surcharge] were tax.

(6)The provisions of Parts III and IV apply to an assessment of 10[default surcharge]as if it were an assessment of tax. Chapter X – Procedure 1[(7) Where a person is liable for default surcharge under this Part, the Commissioner may, at his discretion, make assessment of default surcharge for the period of default or part thereof, notwithstanding that the tax due has not actually been paid.] 2 [205A. Reduction in 3[default surcharge], consequential to reduction in tax or penalty.— Where, in consequence of any order made under this Ordinance, the amount of tax or penalty in respect of which 4[default surcharge] is chargeable under section 205 is reduced, the 5[default surcharge], if any, levied under the aforesaid section shall be reduced accordingly.] PART XIII CIRCULARS