The expression, economic interest, thus takes within its sweep matters which operate at a macro level and not at an individual, i.e., micro level. In my view, by no stretch of imagination can scrutiny guidelines impact economic interest of the country. These guidelines are issued to prevent harassment to assessees generally. 

Under the existing provisions, every return of income is to be processed under sub-section (1) of section 143 and refund, if any, due is to be issued to the taxpayer. Some returns of income are also selected for scrutiny which may lead to raising a demand for taxes although refunds may have been issued earlier at the time of processing.

Assessments under Income Tax Act 1961 are made U/S 143, 144, 147, 153. The criteria’s for selection of cases for scrutiny has been increased. While making the assessment the assessing officer has to appreciate all the facts properly. If there is any misinterpretation of facts it may result in injustice to the assessee. Some times when there is confusion regarding interpretation of facts as appearing in a particular case or confusion regarding any law point the assessing officer tends to consult their senior officials like Additional Commissioners or else.

Investigating agencies probing alleged financial irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation have now ordered scrutiny of all “cash transaction reports” related to the funding of payments by telecom players, banks and individuals involved in the gra

The Central Board of Direct Taxes recently framed a scheme for ensuring quality tax assessments by its officers across India. In the preface to the scheme (issued in December 2009), the CBDT has expressed its concerns on the need for improving the general quality of tax assessments conducted by its officers.

Income tax evaders are being pushed into an increasingly tight corner – the I-T department is planning restructuring that will help assessing officers spend more time on an assessee than they do now. Currently in Mumbai, an assessing officer, the individual who actually detects tax evasion after going through the assessee’s files, scrutinises an average of 400 cases a year.

If you’re worried about what questions your income tax officer will ask about your returns, you can relax a bit. The department has decided to take up fewer tax returns for scrutiny this year. The Central Board of Direct Taxes had issued an internal circular in December 2009, asking commissioners to select fewer cases for scrutiny.

We all know about the dispute resolution mechanism under the provisions of Companies Act, 1956. Till 2002 amendments to the Companies Act, 1956, significantly, the dispute resolution mechanism was vested with the Company Court and the Company Law Board. Company Court is nothing but High Court having jurisdiction to entertain certain company matters like winding-up and amalgamation petitions etc.

After taxing investors for dividend stripping, the Income Tax (I-T) Department is gearing up to tax bonus stripping. Official sources say scrutiny of returns filed by companies, brokers and individuals active in the stock markets and in possession of shares revealed wide use of this mechanism to evade tax.

The finance ministry has quietly initiated the process of opening up the income tax files of politicians belonging to all parties and tallying their income statements with the affidavits filed by them with the Election Commission during the 2009 parliamentary polls. Verification of the assets declared by the Lok Sabha candidates, many of whom have now become MPs and even ministers, will help the department to assess if they had paid appropriate taxes as declared in their statements with the two different authorities.