Certificate of registration as Income Tax Practitioner mandatory to appear before revenue authorities

In this case Shri B.D. Giri, ITP referred to section 288(2)(v) & (vi) of the IT Act and claimed that since he is retired departmental Officer, therefore, without any certificate of registration as ITP can appear before the Income-tax Authorities and the Tribunal. He has also admitted before us that though he is practicing in Gwalior, but he is not registered with the CIT, Gwalior. His claim is totally wrong and his conduct is liable to be impeached.

Section 288(2)(v) & (vi) provides the meaning of authorized representative who have passed any accountancy examination recognized by the Board or any person who has acquired such educational qualifications prescribed by the Board in this behalf. Section 50 of the IT Rules provides accountancy examinations recognized in case of departmental officers and such departmental examination shall be conducted by the CBDT under sub-section (4) of section 50 of the IT Rules. The educational qualification is also provided u/s. 51 of the IT rules. However, mere possession of educational qualification without conducting departmental examination by the Board itself is not sufficient to have any right to practice as Income-tax Practitioner (ITP in short). According to Rule 53, 54 & 55 of the IT Rules, the Chief Commissioner or the Commissioner shall have to maintain prescribed form to register ITP to whom certificate is issued. The person, who claims to be registered as ITP shall have to file proper application supported by documents to prove his accountancy examination recognized and educational qualifications achieved by him as per Rules. When CCIT or the CIT are satisfied that such person fulfills the requirement of section 288(2) of the IT Act, the ITP would be registered with the CCIT/CIT and a certificate of registration to practice shall be granted in his favour. The other provisions from section 56 & 57 of the IT Rules provides for cancellation of such certificate, which is not necessary in this case because admittedly, Shri B.D. Giri is not registered with CIT, Gwalior as he has not obtained any certificate of registration as ITP in his favour. The above provisions of the IT Act and IT Rules clearly prove that Shri B.D. Giri is not Income Tax Practitioner as recognized in the Income-tax Act and Rules. Therefore, without any certificate of registration in his favour under the above provisions, he cannot practice before the IT authorities and the Tribunal. Therefore, we warn Shri B.D. Giri to be careful in future. Copy of this order be provided to CIT, Gwalior for taking necessary action in the matter because the law would not provide any unauthorized person/representative to appear before the Income-tax Authorities or the Tribunal. In this view of the mater and the directions above, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.