Section 46:
Procedure.
(1) The tax authority shall, for the purposes of imposing any penalty under this
Chapter, issue a notice to an assessee requiring him to show cause why the penalty should not be imposed
on him.
(2) The notice referred to in sub-section (1) shall be issued—
(a) during the pendency of any proceedings under this Act for the relevant previous year, in
respect of penalty referred to in section 41;
(b) within a period of three years from the end of the financial year in which the default is
committed, in respect of penalties referred to in section 45.
(3) No order imposing a penalty under this Chapter shall be made unless the assessee has been given
an opportunity of being heard.
(4) An order imposing a penalty under this Chapter shall be made with the approval of the Joint
Commissioner, 1
[or the Joint Director] if—
(a) the penalty exceeds one lakh rupees and the tax authority levying the penalty is in the rank of
Income-tax Officer; or
(b) the penalty exceeds five lakh rupees and the tax authority levying the penalty is in the rank of
Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner 1
[or Assistant Director or Deputy Director].
(5) Every order of penalty issued under this Chapter shall be accompanied by a notice of demand in
respect of the amount of penalty imposed and such notice of demand shall be deemed to be a notice under
section 13.
Notes:
1. Ins. by Act 13 of 2018, s. 219 (w.e.f. 1-4-2018).