The Income Tax Department has decided to bring its over two-lakh strong staff under biometric monitoring system to ensure strict adherence to working hours. In an ambitious project rolled out by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), I-T’s administrative authority, the department has invited tenders for ‘purchase, installation and monitoring of biometric based attendance monitoring system’.
As per the Notification issued on 23rd February 2012 as required by section 30(3) of the Chartered Accountant Act 1949 it was decided that exemption from ‘Common Proficiency Test’ is given subject to certain condition… i) all graduate and post graduate with any of the three subject as mentioned in the notification having secured 55% of the total mark.
States have asked centre for adequate compensation for their revenue loss due reduction in the Central Sales Tax -CST. Otherwise, the levy should be increased to the earlier rate of 4 per cent. Empowered Committee of the State Finance Minister in New Delhi also finalised a negative list of 35 services, which will notbe taxed under proposed Goods and Services Tax – GST regime.
A Parliamentary panel scrutinising the Direct Taxes Code – DTC Bill has suggested raising the income tax exemption limit to 3 lakh rupees from the present 1.8 lakhs. It has also suggested hiking of deduction on savings to 2.5 lakh rupees.
The new software, which allows taxpayers to access details of his ITR on smart phone, is being developed with the help of TCS. The new service will be part of the upgraded online return filing portal which will be launched in the next couple of months. The department already hosts services like viewing of tax credits, Annual Information Return (AIR), Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) status, various tax related forms and Tax Return Preparer Scheme (TRPS).
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India and Food Corporation of India (FCI) (Government of India Undertaking) have signed an MOU on 28th February’2012. As per this MOU the intermediate passed students of the Institute will be able to undergo Practical Training with FCI.
The Technical Cell of National Task Force constituted by the Institute has approved the release of the Exposure Draft of Guidance Note on Maintenance of Cost Accounting Records. The proposed Guidance Note may be modified in light of comments/ suggestions received before being issued as Guidance Note in the final form.
Cost Audit & Energy Audit for all Co operative Sugar Factories have been made mandatory vides Government of Maharashtra Order No. SGY2011/C.R.359/14-S dated. 8th December 2011. Expression of Interest (EoI) is invited from the interested Firm /Partners/ Cost Accountant for Cost Audit and Firm/Partners/ Energy Auditors for Energy Audit for empanelment –
1st February 2012, will be written in letters of gold in the annals of the Institute history, as it is the effective date from which the notification passed by the parliament for the change of name of the Institute to The Institute of Cost Accountants of India and to use the designated letters ACMA and FCMA came into effect. Immediately following that the Institute was also able operationalise the decisions taken by the Council to use the title CMA before the name to denote the profession
Rising litigation with taxpayers is matter of serious concern for the Government. A need for reducing the litigation has been emphasized by the Finance Minister on various occasions. As per the directions of the Finance Minister, a Standing Committee has been constituted in the Central Board of Excise and Customs to identify systemic causes for litigation and preparing a roadmap for reducing the existing litigation and avoiding litigation in future on the indirect tax side. The Committee consists of two Members of the Board, nominated officials of CBEC, and a representative of Law Ministry.
