Month: March 2017

The Bar Council of India has issued a directive dated 27.03.2017 that all Bar Councils and Bar Associations should abstain from work on 31st March 2017 to protest the proposed amendments to the Advocates Act 1961 by the Amendment Bill 2017. It is claimed that the proposed amendments are “undemocratic” and “anti-lawyers

The CBDT has issued two notifications, both dated 29th March 2017, relating to the appointment of Assistant Commissioners of Income-tax and the promotion of Assistant Commissioners to the grade of Deputy Commissioners of Income-tax

The Constitution of the Bombay High Court’s Tax Bench w.e.f 27.03.2017 is as follows

The CBDT has issued Circular No. 11/2017 dated 24.03.2017 which encompasses an Order u/s 119(2)(a) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. By the said Circular, the CBDT has stipulated guidelines for waiver of interest charged under section 201(1A)(i)of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for failure / default in deducting TDS under Chapter XVIIB of the Act. The CBDT has specified the class of cases in which the reduction or waiver of interest u/s 201(1A)(i) can be considered

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The CBDT has made the surprising announcement that a number of high-level IRS and Group A service officers are presently “absconding” or are on “unauthorized leave”. A high-level committee has been formed to locate these officers. However, why any IRS officer in his right mind would want to abscond and forego the immense privileges and perquisites that he enjoys at the cost of the exchequer will require to be separately probed

The CBDT has issued Circular No. 10 of 2017 dated 23.03.2017 by which it has provided important clarifications on the Income Computation and Disclosure Standards (ICDS) notified under section 145(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The clarifications are in the form of FAQs. There are 25 FAQs dealing with all the important aspects of the ICDS. The Circular is a must read for all taxpayers and professionals

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The CBDT has vide Order No. 41 of 2017 dated 21.03.2017 ordered the postings and transfers of officers in the grade of Commissioner of Income-tax with immediate effect and until further orders

The Finance Bill 2017, as passed by the Lok Sabha today, is available for download. There are several important and landmark amendments proposed in the said Bill.

The Finance Bill has 40 amendments. The amendments to the Finance Bill include a provision to cap legal cash transactions at Rs 2 lakh from 1st April. The bill had originally proposed the cap at Rs 3 lakh. Arun Jaitley, the Hon’ble Finance Minister, said the cap on cash transactions is being reduced to curb generation of black money and the move to introduce electoral bonds is for cleansing the political funding.

Besides, amendments to the Companies Act, the Employees Provident Fund Act, Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Act, TRAI Act and Information Technology Act were passed.

One of the important amendments is making Aadhaar number mandatory for filing of Income Tax returns to curb tax evasion and frauds.

The Bill was passed by the House by voice vote. Unfortunately, there as a walkout by the members of the Congress and the BJD.

The CBDT has issued a directive dated 20.03.2017 stating that some Government servants are unauthorisedly communicating with the Press either in their own name or in pseudonymous names. It has warned that such unauthorised communication with the Press is a “serious misconduct” which is liable to appropriate action (including disciplinary action). The CBDT has directed the concerned cadre controlling authorities to view such misconduct seriously

The Government has proposed several landmark amendments to the Finance Bill 2017 including provisions relating to the appointment of, and remuneration to, the ITAT Members. There is also a controversial provision to make the Aadhar card mandatory for filing income-tax returns. The amendments to the Finance Bill also provides for amendments to the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, Consumer Protection Act, Administrative Tribunals Act, Income Tax Act, Cinematograph Act, Customs Act, Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, Electricity Act, Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007 and the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 to bring the pay, qualifications, appointment, term of service, resignation, removal and terms and conditions of service under the Finance Act, Section 179