A. Section 92C of the Income-tax Act provides the procedure for computation of the Arm’s Length Price (ALP). The section provides the methods of computing the ALP and mandates that the most appropriate method should be chosen to compute ALP. It is also provided that if more than one price is determined by the chosen method, theALP shall be taken to be the arithmetical mean of such prices. The second proviso to section 92C(2) provides that if the variation between the actual price of the transaction and the ALP, as determined above, does not exceed 5% of the actual price, then, no adjustment will be made and the actual price shall be treated as the ALP.
A fixed margin of 5% across all segments of business activity and range of international transactions has out-lived its utility. It is, therefore, proposed to amend section 92C of the Act to provide that instead of a variation of 5%, the allowable variation will be such percentage as may be notified by Central Government in this behalf.
This amendment is proposed to take effect from 1st April, 2012 and it shall accordingly apply in relation to the Assessment Year 2012-13 and subsequent years.
B Section 92CA of the Act provides that the Transfer Pricing Officer (TPO) can determine the ALP in relation to an international transaction, which has been referred to the TPO by the Assessing Officer.
It is proposed to amend section 92CA so as to specifically provide that the jurisdiction of the Transfer Pricing Officer shall extend to the determination of the ALP in respect of other international transactions, which are noticed by him subsequently, in the course of proceedings before him. These international transactions would be in addition to the international transactions referred to the TPO by the Assessing Officer.
C Section 92CA(7) provides that for the purpose of determining the ALP, the TPO can exercise powers available to an assessing officer under section 131(1) and section 133(6). These are powers of summoning or calling for details for the purpose of inquiry or investigation into the matter.
In order to enable the TPO to conduct on-the-spot enquiry and verification, it is proposed to amend section 92CA(7) so as to enable the TPO to also exercise the power of survey conferred upon an income-tax authority under section 133A of the Act.
These amendments are proposed to take effect from 1st June 2011.
D. Section 139 of the Income-tax Act stipulates 30th September of the assessment year as the due date for filing of return of income in case of corporate assessees. In addition to filing a return of income, assessees who have undertaken international transactions are also required (under the provisions of section 92E) to prepare and file a transfer pricing report in Form 3CEB before the due date for filing of return of income.
Corporate assessees face practical difficulties in accessing contemporary comparable data before 30th September in order to furnish a report in respect of their international transactions. It is, therefore, proposed to amend section 139 to extend the due date for filing of return of income by such corporate assessees to 30th November of the assessment year.
This amendment is proposed to take effect from 1st April 2011.
