15Penalty for failure to furnish returns, comply with notices, concealment of receipts, etc

(1) If, in the course of any proceedings under this Act, the Income-tax Officer or the Commissioner (Appeals) is satisfied that any person--

(a) has, without reasonable cause, failed to furnish the return of chargeable receipts which he was required to furnish under sub-section (1) of section 8 or by notice given under sub-section (2) of section 8 or section 13 or has, without reasonable cause, failed to furnish it within the time allowed and the manner required by sub-section (1) of section 8 or by such notice, as the case may be, or

(b) has, without reasonable cause, failed to comply with the notice under sub-section (1) of section 10, or

(c) has concealed the particulars of his chargeable receipts or furnished inaccurate particulars of such receipts,

he may direct that such person shall pay by way of penalty,--

(i) in the cases referred to in clause (a), in addition to the hotel-receipts tax payable by him, a sum equal to two per cent. of the assessed tax for every month during which the default continued, but not exceeding in the aggregate fifty per cent. of the assessed tax.

Explanation.--In this clause, "assessed tax" means hotel-receipts tax chargeable under the provisions of this Act, as reduced by the sum, if any, paid in advance under section 14;

(ii) in the cases referred to in clause (b), in addition to the hotel-receipts tax payable by him, a sum which shall not be less than ten per cent. but which shall not exceed fifty per cent. of the amount of the hotel-receipts tax which would have been avoided if the return made by him had been accepted as correct;

(iii) in the cases referred to in clause (c), in addition to the hotel-receipts tax payable by him, a sum which shall not be less than, but which shall not exceed twice, the amount of hotel-receipts tax which would have been avoided if the return made by him had been accepted as correct:

Provided that in a case falling under clause (c), the Income-tax Officer shall not impose any penalty without the previous approval of the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner.

(2) On making an order imposing a penalty under this section, the Commissioner (Appeals) shall forthwith send a copy of the same to the Income-tax Officer.