The Companies Bill, 2011 was introduced in Parliament today, 14th December 2011 is available for download. The Bill has made a number of radical changes to Company Law

Vide Notification dated 1.12.2011 the Central Board of Direct Taxes has placed 45 Joint Commissioners of Income-tax in the Selection Grade (Non-functional)

The CBDT has indicated vide letter dated 25.11.2011 that there are several vacant/ likely to be vacant posts in the Benches of the Income Tax Settlement Commission at Delhi, Chennai, Kolkota and Mumbai

The CBDT has released a list dated 23.11.2011 of 111 candidates being considered for promotion to the post of Commissioner of Income-tax

Information on tax matters is being sought by field officers of the Income Tax Department from countries/jurisdictions with which India has Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) or Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) under the relevant ‘Exchange of Information’ Article of DTAA/TIEA through the office of competent authority viz. the Joint Secretary in the Foreign Tax & Tax Division, CBDT. Presently the above information is being sought obtained in a prescribed checklist/proforma (copy enclosed as Annexure-A). Further in the case of U.K. for obtaining banking information, a separate proforma has been prescribed by U.K. tax authorities (copy enclosed as Annexure-B)

Requirement of Advocates for empanelment as Junior Standing Counsels and Senior Standing Counsels to represent the Department before the Hon’ble High Court of Madras

The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has, vide office order Nos. 299 to 303, all dated 8.11.2011 notified the appointments of Ombudsman at Bangaluru, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Lucknow and New Delhi.