30. Assessment of escaped turnover.

(1) Where, for any reason, the whole or any part of turnover of business of a dealer has escaped assessment to tax, the assessing authority may, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), at any time within a period of five years from the expiry of the year to which the return under this Act relates, determine to the best of its judgment the turnover which has escaped assessment and assess the tax payable on such turnover after making such enquiry as it may consider necessary and after giving the dealer a reasonable opportunity to show cause against such assessment.

(2) Where, for any reason, the whole or any part of the turnover of business of a dealer has been assessed at a rate lower than the rate at which it is assessable, the assessing authority may, at any time within a period of five years from the expiry of the year to which the return under this Act relates, re-assess the tax due after making such enquiry as it may consider necessary and after giving the dealer a reasonable opportunity to showcause against such re-assessment.

(3) In making an assessment under sub-section (1), the assessing authority may, if it is satisfied that the escape from assessment is due to non-disclosure of assessable turnover by the dealer, direct the dealer to pay, in addition to the tax assessed under sub-section (1), a penalty of double the amount of the tax so assessed:

Provided that no penalty shall be imposed under this section unless the dealer affected has had a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such imposition.

(4) The powers under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) may be exercised by the assessing authority even though the original order of assessment, if any, passed in the matter has been the subject matter of an appeal or revision.

(5) In computing the period of limitation for assessment or re-assessment under this section, the time during which the proceedings for assessment or re-assessment remained stayed under the orders of a Civil Court or other authority shall be excluded.