Section 19. Refund of excess payment.

1[19. Refund of excess payment.- The prescribed authority shall refund to a 2[employer or person] the amount of tax, penalty, interest and fees (if any) paid by such 3[employer or person] in excess of the amount due from him. The refund may be made either by cash payment or, at the option of the 4[employer or person], by deduction of such excess from the amount of tax, penalty, interest and fee due in respect of any other period: Provided that, the prescribed authority shall first apply such excess towards the recovery of any amount due in respect of which a notice under section 7 has been served, and shall then refund the balance, if any.]