Issue/Justification
The CBDT introduced the rollback rules under the APA program on 14 March 2015. There were some ambiguities about the implementation of the rollback rules, and therefore, CBDT issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) clarifying certain issues. In this regard, some of the aspects that need to be further addressed are as under:
The international transaction proposed to be covered under the rollback is to be the same as covered under the main APA. The term ‘same international transaction’ implies that the transaction in the rollback year has to be of the same nature and undertaken with the same AEs, as proposed to be undertaken in the future years and in respect of which APA has been reached.
Suggestion
It is recommended that this provision should be relaxed to the extent that the taxpayers with similar transactions with no substantial changes in the functional, asset and risk profile should be allowed to take benefit of this provision. Further, if the same/ similar transaction is undertaken with another AE, the benefit of rollback should be provided.
Thus, it is recommended that the provision should be made applicable to similar nature of transactions and with different AEs.
Further, the rules provide that if the applicant does not carry out any actions prescribed for any of the rollback years, the entire APA shall be cancelled.
It is recommended that this provision should be relaxed and should not result in the cancellation of the entire APA.
