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Every taxpayer has to furnish the details of his income to the Income-tax Department. These details are to be furnished by filing up his return of income. Once the return of income is filed up by the taxpayer, the next step is the processing of the return of income by the Income Tax Department. The Income Tax Department examines the return of income for its correctness. The process of examining the return of income by the Income Tax department is called as “Assessment”. Assessment also includes re-assessment and best judgment assessment under section 144.

Self Assessment u/s 140A

This type of Income Tax Assessment is the one in which the assessee calculate the tax by himself, usually to accompany his calculation with payment of the amount he regards as due.

Tax payable is required to be furnished under section 139 or section 142 or section 148 or section 153A, after taking TDS and deducting Advance tax paid.

Assessment

Time limit:

There are no specific dates to pay Self Assessment Tax. Payment of Self Assessment Tax and non-filing of the returns should be paid within 31st July of every year.

Direct Mode of Payment

Self Assessment Tax can be paid by filing a tax payment challan, ITNS 280. Challans are available in the designated branches of banks associated with the Income Tax Department.

Online Mode of Payment

Assessee can pay tax online through different websites.

Under the Income-tax Law, there are four major assessments given below:

1. Assessment under section 143(1), i.e., Summary assessment without calling the assessee.

2. Assessment under section 143(3), i.e., Scrutiny assessment.

3. Assessment under section 144, i.e., Best judgment assessment.

4. Assessment under section 147, i.e., Income escaping assessment.

Assessment under section 143(1)

This is a preliminary assessment and is referred to as summary assessment without calling the assessee (i.e., taxpayer).

Scope of assessment under section 143(1)

Assessment under section 143(1) is like preliminary checking of the return of income. At this stage no detailed scrutiny of the return of income is carried out. At this stage, the total income or loss is computed after making the following adjustments (if any), namely:-

1. any arithmetical error in the return; or

2. an incorrect claim (*), if such incorrect claim is apparent from any information in the return;

3. disallowance of loss claimed, if return of the previous year for which set-off of loss is claimed was furnished beyond the due date specified under section 139(1); or

4. disallowance of expenditure indicated in the audit report but not taken into account in computing the total income in the return; or

5. disallowance of deduction claimed u/s 10AA, 80IA to 80-IE, if the return is furnished beyond the due date specified under section 139(1); or

6. addition of income appearing in Form 26AS or Form 16A or Form 16 which has not been included in computing the total income in the return. However, no such adjustment shall be made in relation to a return furnished for the assessment year 2018-19 and thereafter.

However, no such adjustment shall be made unless an intimation is given to the assessee of such adjustment either in writing or in electronic mode. Further, the response received from the assessee, if any, shall be considered before making any adjustment, and in case where no response is received within 30 days of the issue of such intimation, such adjustments shall be made.

For the above purpose “an incorrect claim apparent from any information in the return” means a claim on the basis of an entry in the return :-

1. of an item which is inconsistent with another entry of the same or some other item in such return;

2. in respect of which the information is required to be furnished under the Act to substantiate such entry and has not been so furnished; or

3. in respect of a deduction, where such deduction exceeds specified statutory limit which may have been expressed as monetary amount or percentage or ratio or fraction;

Procedure of assessment under section 143(1)

1. After correcting arithmetical error or incorrect claim (if any) as discussed above, the tax and interest and fee*, if any, shall be computed on the basis of the adjusted income.

2. Any sum payable by or refund due to the taxpayer shall be intimated to him.

3. An intimation shall be prepared or generated and sent to the taxpayer specifying the sum determined to be payable by, or the amount of refund due to the taxpayer.

4. An intimation shall also be sent to the taxpayer in a case where the loss declared in the return of income by the taxpayer is adjusted but no tax or interest is payable by or no refund is due to him.

5. The acknowledgement of the return of income shall be deemed to be the intimation in a case where no sum is payable by or refundable to the assessee or where no adjustment is made to the returned income.

As per section 234F (as inserted by Finance Act, 2017 with effect from Assessment Year 2018-19), a fee shall be levied where the return of income is not filed within the due dates prescribed under section 139(1). The amount of fee is as follows:-

1. 5,000, if the return is furnished on or before the 31st day of December of the assessment year;

2. 10,000 in any other case:

Provided that if the total income of the person does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000, the amount of fee shall not exceed Rs. 1000.

Time-limit

Assessment under section 143(1) can be made within a period of one year from the end of the financial year in which the return of income is filed.

Assessment under section 143(3)

This is a detailed assessment and is referred to as scrutiny assessment. At this stage a detailed scrutiny of the return of income will be carried out is to confirm the correctness and genuineness of various claims, deductions, etc., made by the taxpayer in the return of income.

Scope of assessment under section 143(3)

The objective of scrutiny assessment is to confirm that the taxpayer has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner.

To confirm the above, the Assessing Officer carries out a detailed scrutiny of the return of income and will satisfy himself regarding various claims, deductions, etc., made by the taxpayer in the return of income.

Procedure of assessment under section 143(3)

1. If the Assessing Officer considers it necessary or expedient to ensure that the taxpayer has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner, then he will serve on the taxpayer a notice requiring him to attend his office or to produce or cause to be produced any evidence on which the taxpayer may rely, in support of the return.

2. To carry out assessment under section 143(3), the Assessing Officer shall serve such notice in accordance with provisions of section 143(2).

3. Notice under section 143(2) should be served within a period of six months from the end of the financial year in which the return is filed.

4. The taxpayer or his representative (as the case may be) will appear before the Assessing Officer and will place his arguments, supporting evidences, etc., on various matters/issues as required by the Assessing Officer

5. After hearing/verifying such evidence and taking into account such particulars as the taxpayer may produce and such other evidence as the Assessing Officer may require on specified points and after taking into account all relevant materials which he has gathered, the Assessing Officer shall, by an order in writing, make an assessment of the total income or loss of the taxpayer and determine the sum payable by him or refund of any amount due to him on the basis of such assessment.

E-Assessments

The Finance Act, 2018 has inserted a new sub-section (3A) in Section 143 that the Central Govt. may make a scheme for the purpose of making assessment so as to impart greater efficiency, transparency and accountability by:

1. Eliminating the interface between the Assessing Officer and the assessee in the course of proceeding to the extent technologically feasible;

2. Optimising utilization of the resources through economies of scale and functional specialization;

3. Introducing a team-based assessment with dynamic jurisdiction.

As part of e-governance initiative to facilitate conduct of assessment proceedings electronically, Income-tax Dept. has launched ‘E-Proceeding’ facility. Under this initiative, CBDT has made it mandatory for the tax officers to take recourse of electronic communications for all limited and complete scrutiny. The CBDT had issued the instructions and notice formats for conducting scrutiny assessments electronically. As per the instruction, except search related assessments, all scrutiny assessments shall be conducted only through the ‘E-Proceeding’ functionality available at e-filing website of Income-tax Dept.

Time-limit

As per Section 153, the time limit for making assessment under section 143(3) is:-

1. Within 21 months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable. [For assessment year 2017-18 or before]

2. 18 months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable. [for assessment year 2018-19]

3. 12 months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable [Assessment year 2019-20 and onwards]

Note:- If reference is made to TPO, the period available for assessment shall be extended by 12 months

Assessment under section 144

This is an assessment carried out as per the best judgment of the Assessing Officer on the basis of all relevant material he has gathered. This assessment is carried out in cases where the taxpayer fails to comply with the requirements specified in section 144.

Scope of assessment under section 144

As per section 144, the Assessing Officer is under an obligation to make an assessment to the best of his judgment in the following cases:-

1. If the taxpayer fails to file the return required within the due date prescribed under section 139(1) or a belated return under section 139(4) or a revised return under section 139(5).

2. If the taxpayer fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under section 142(1).

Note: The Assessing Officer can issue notice under section 142(1) asking the taxpayer to file the return of income if he has not filed the return of income or to produce or cause to be produced such accounts or documents as he may require and to furnish in writing and verified in the prescribed manner information in such form and on such points or matters (including a statement of all assets and liabilities of the taxpayer, whether included in the accounts or not) as he may require.

If the taxpayer fails to comply with the directions issued under section 142(2A).

Note : Section 142(2A) deals with special audit. As per section 142(2A), if the conditions justifying special audit as given in section 142(2A) are satisfied, then the Assessing Officer will direct the taxpayer to get his accounts audited from a chartered accountant nominated by the principal chief commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner and to furnish a report of such audit in the prescribed form.

3. If after filing the return of income the taxpayer fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under section 143(2), i.e., notice of scrutiny assessment.

4. If the assessing officer is not satisfied about the correctness or the completeness of the accounts of the taxpayer or if no method of accounting has been regularly employed by the taxpayer.

From the above criteria, it can be observed that best judgment assessment is resorted to in cases where the return of income is not filed by the taxpayer or if there is no cooperation by the taxpayer in terms of furnishing information / explanation related to his tax assessment or if books of accounts of taxpayer are not reliable or are incomplete.

Procedure of assessment under section 144

1. If the conditions given above calling for best judgment are satisfied, then the Assessing Officer will serve a notice on the taxpayer to show cause why the assessment should not be completed to the best of his judgment

2. No notice as given above is required in a case where a notice under section 142(1) has been issued prior to the making of an assessment under section 144

3. If the Assessing Officer is not satisfied by the arguments of the taxpayer and he has reason to believe that the case demands a best judgment, then he will proceed to carry out the assessment to the best of his knowledge.

4. If the criteria of the best judgment assessment are satisfied, then after taking into account all relevant materials which the Assessing Officer has gathered, and after giving the taxpayer an opportunity of being heard, the Assessing Officer shall make the assessment of the total income or loss to the best of his knowledge/judgment and determine the sum payable by the taxpayer on the basis of such assessment.

Time-Limit

As per Section 153, the time limit for making assessment under section 144 is:-

1. Within 21 months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable. [For assessment year 2017-18 or before]

2. 18 months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable. [for assessment year 2018-19]

3. 12 months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable [Assessment year 2019-20 and onwards]

Note:- If reference is made to TPO, the period available for assessment shall be extended by 12 months

Assessment under section 147

This assessment is carried out if the Assessing Officer has reason to believe that any income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for any assessment year

Scope of assessment under section 147

1. The objective of carrying out assessment under section 147 is to bring under the tax net any income which has escaped assessment in original assessment.

2. Original assessment here means an assessment under sections 143(1), 143(3), 144 and 147 (as the case may be).

3. In other words, if any income has escaped (*) from being taxed in the original assessment made under section 143(1) or section 143(3) or section 144 or section 147, then the same can be brought under tax net by resorting to assessment under section 147.

* In the following cases, it will be considered as income having escaped assessment:

1. Where no return of income has been furnished by the taxpayer, although his total income or the total income of any other person in respect of which he is assessable during the previous year exceeded the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax

2. Where a return of income has been furnished by the taxpayer but no assessment has been made and it is noticed by the Assessing Officer that the taxpayer has understated the income or has claimed excessive loss, deduction, allowance or relief in the return.

3. Where the taxpayer has failed to furnish a report in respect of any international transaction which he was required to do under section 92E.

4. Where an assessment has been made, but:

a) income chargeable to tax has been under assessed; or

b) income has been assessed at low rate; or

c) income has been made the subject of excessive relief; or

d) excessive loss or depreciation allowance or any other allowance has been computed

5. Where a person is found to have any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India

6. Where a return of income has not been furnished by the assesse and on the basis of information or document received from the prescribed income-tax authority under section 133C(2), it is noticed by the Assessing Officer that the income of the assessee exceeds the maximum amount not chargeable to tax.

7. Where a return of income has been furnished by the assessee and on the basis of information or document received from the prescribed income-tax authority under section 133C(2), it is noticed by the Assessing Officer that the assessee has understated the income or has claimed excessive loss, deduction, allowance or relief in the return.

Procedure of assessment under section 147

1. For making an assessment under section 147, the Assessing Officer has to issue notice under section 148 to the taxpayer and has to give him an opportunity of being heard. The time-limit for issuance of notice under section 148 is discussed in later part.

2. If the Assessing Officer has reason to believe that any income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for any assessment year, then he may assess or reassess such income and also any other income chargeable to tax which has escaped assessment and which comes to his notice subsequently in the course of the proceedings under this section. He is also empowered to re-compute the loss or the depreciation allowance or any other allowance, as the case may be, for the assessment year concerned.

3. Items which are the subject matters of any appeal, reference or revision cannot be covered by the Assessing Officer under section 147.

Time-limit for completion of assessment under section 147

As per Section 153, the time limit for making assessment under section 147 is:-

1. Within 9 months from the end of the financial year in which the notice under section 148 was served (if notice is served before 01-04-2019)

2. 12 months from the end of the financial year in which notice under section 148 is served (if notice is served on or after 01-04-2019).

Note:- If reference is made to TPO, the period available for assessment shall be extended by 12 months

Assessment under section 148

(1) Before making the assessment, reassessment or recomputation under section 147, the Assessing Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice requiring him to furnish within such period, as may be specified in the notice, a return of his income or the income of any other person in respect of which he is assessable under this Act during the previous year corresponding to the relevant assessment year, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such other particulars as may be prescribed; and the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly as if such return were a return required to be furnished under section 139 :

Provided that in a case—

(a) where a return has been furnished during the period commencing on the 1st day of October, 1991 and ending on the 30th day of September, 2005 in response to a notice served under this section, and

(b) subsequently a notice has been served under sub-section (2) of section 143 after the expiry of twelve months specified in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 143, as it stood immediately before the amendment of said sub-section by the Finance Act, 2002 (20 of 2002) but before the expiry of the time limit for making the assessment, re-assessment or recomputation as specified in sub-section (2) of section 153, every such notice referred to in this clause shall be deemed to be a valid notice:

Provided further that in a case—

(a) where a return has been furnished during the period commencing on the 1st day of October, 1991 and ending on the 30th day of September, 2005, in response to a notice served under this section, and

(b) subsequently a notice has been served under clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 143 after the expiry of twelve months specified in the proviso to clause (ii) of sub-section (2) of section 143, but before the expiry of the time limit for making the assessment, reassessment or recomputation as specified in sub-section (2) of section 153, every such notice referred to in this clause shall be deemed to be a valid notice.

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that nothing contained in the first proviso or the second proviso shall apply to any return which has been furnished on or after the 1st day of October, 2005 in response to a notice served under this section.

(2) The Assessing Officer shall, before issuing any notice under this section, record his reasons for doing so.

Time-limit for issuance of notice under section 148

1. Notice under section 148 can be issued within a period of 4 (*) years from the end of the relevant assessment year. If the escaped income is Rs. 1,00,000 or more and certain other conditions are satisfied, then notice can be issued upto 6 years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

2. Notice under section 148 can be issued within a period of 4 (*) years from the end of the relevant assessment year. But if the income in relation to any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India, chargeable to tax and certain other conditions are satisfied, then notice can be issued upto 16 years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

Notice under section 148 can be issued by AO only after getting prior approval from the prescribed authority.

3. If the person on whom a notice under section 148 is to be served is a person treated as the agent of a non-resident and the assessment, reassessment or recomputation to be made in pursuance of the notice is to be made on him as the agent of such non-resident, the notice shall not be issued after the expiry of a period of six years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

Assessment under section 153

After section 153 of the Income-tax Act, the following sec­tions shall be inserted with effect from the 1st day of June, 2003, namely :—

153A – Assessment in case of search or requisition

Assessment in case of search or requisition.—Notwith­standing anything contained in section 139, section 147, section 148, section 149, section 151 and section 153, in the case of a person where a search is initiated under section 132 or books of account, other documents or any assets are requisitioned under section 132A after the 31st day of May, 2003, the Assessing Officer shall—

(a) issue notice to such person requiring him to furnish within such period, as may be specified in the notice, the return of income in respect of each assessment year falling within six assessment years referred to in clause (b), in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner and setting forth such other particulars as may be prescribed and the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly as if such return were a return required to be furnished under section 139;

(b) assess or reassess the total income of six assessment years immediately preceding the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which such search is conducted or requisition is made :

Provided that the Assessing Officer shall assess or reassess the total income in respect of each assessment year falling within such six assessment years:

Provided further that assessment or reassessment, if any, relat­ing to any assessment year falling within the period of six assessment years referred to in this section pending on the date of initiation of the search under section 132 or making of requi­sition under section 132A, as the case may be, shall abate.

Explanation.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that,—

(i ) save as otherwise provided in this section, section 153B and section 153C, all other provisions of this Act shall apply to the assessment made under this section;

(ii ) in an assessment or reassessment made in respect of an assessment year under this section, the tax shall be chargeable at the rate or rates as applicable to such assessment year.

153B – Time limit for completion of assessment under section 153A

Time-limit for completion of assessment under section 153A.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 153, the Assessing Officer shall make an order of assessment or reassess­ment,—

(a) in respect of each assessment year falling within six assessment years referred to in clause (b) of section 153A, within a period of two years from the end of the financial year in which the last of the authorisations for search under section 132 or for requisition under section 132A was executed;

(b) in respect of the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which search is conducted under section 132 or requisition is made under section 132A, within a period of two years from the end of the financial year in which the last of the authorisations for search under section 132 or for requisition under section 132A was executed.

Explanation.—In computing the period of limitation for the purposes of this section,—

(i) the period during which the assessment proceeding is stayed by an order or injunction of any court; or

(ii) the period commencing from the day on which the Assess­ing Officer directs the assessee to get his accounts audited under sub-section (2A) of section 142 and ending on the day on which the assessee is required to furnish a report of such audit under that sub-section; or

(iii) the time taken in reopening the whole or any part of the proceeding or in giving an opportunity to the assessee of being re-heard under the proviso to section 129; or

(iv) in a case where an application made before the Settle­ment Commission under section 245C is rejected by it or is not allowed to be proceeded with by it, the period commencing from the date on which such application is made and ending with the date on which the order under sub-section (1) of section 245D is received by the Commissioner under sub-section (2) of that sec­tion, shall be excluded:

Provided that where immediately after the exclusion of the afore­said period, the period of limitation referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of this section available to the Assessing Officer for making an order of assessment or reassessment, as the case may be, is less than sixty days, such remaining period shall be extended to sixty days and the aforesaid period of limitation shall be deemed to be extended accordingly.

(2) The authorisation referred to in clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been executed,—

(a) in the case of search, on the conclusion of search as recorded in the last panchnama drawn in relation to any person in whose case the warrant of authorisation has been issued;

(b) in the case of requisition under section 132A, on the actual receipt of the books of account or other documents or assets by the Authorised Officer.

153C – Assessment of income of any other person

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 139, section 147, section 148, section 149, section 151 and section 153, where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing or books of account or documents seized or requisitioned belongs or belong to a person other than the person referred to in section 153A, then the books of account or documents or assets seized or requisitioned shall be handed over to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over such other person and that Assessing Officer shall proceed against each such other person and issue such other person notice and assess or reassess income of such other person in accordance with the provisions of section 153A.’.

153D – Prior approval necessary for assessment in cases of search or requisition.

No order of assessment or reassessment shall be passed by an Assessing Officer below the rank of Joint Commissioner in respect of each assessment year referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 153A or the assessment year referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 153B, except with the prior approval of the Joint Commissioner:

Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply where the assessment or reassessment order, as the case may be, is required to be passed by the Assessing Officer with the prior approval of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner under sub-section (12) of section 144BA.

While drafting this article main idea is to provide the Complete information regarding the various type of assessments Covered under Income Tax act 1961, for further doubts you can write us on vivekmalhotra492@gmail.com or call at 9780754114

(Republished with Amendments)

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