Year: 2020

15th July 2020 marked the 84th birthday of Advocate Shri V.H.Patil (Born on July 15, 1937) who is one of the eminent tax counsel, known for professional ethics and integrity. Shri V. H. Patil is mentor for many professionals, hence the new energetic Membership & Public Relations Committee of Chamber of Tax Consultants (CTC chaired by CA Nishtha Pandya with Co-Chairman, CA Premal Gandhi arranged a virtual panel discussion on the subject of “Ethical Challenges faced by Professionals in today’s world”

Tax professionals of Hyderabad Zone of ITAT, on 22nd July, 2020, held a condolence meet through virtual mode to pay homage to four stalwarts viz.Late Honourable Justice Mr .Y.V.Anjaneyulu (Retd.), Late Honourable ShriT.Venkatappa, Vice- President, ITAT (Retd.), Late Honourable Shri S.Rajaratnam, Accountant Member, ITAT (Retd.,) and  Late  Shri D.Sitaramaiah, FCA and Ex-TTD chairman

In view of the constraints due to the Covid pandemic & to further ease compliances for taxpayers, the CBDT has extended the due date for filing of Income Tax Returns for FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20) from 31st July, 2020 to 30th September, 2020, vide Notification dated 29th July, 2020

The Ministry of Finance has issued a Notification dated 24th June, 2020 granting extension of various time limits under Direct Tax & Benami laws in view of the challenges faced by taxpayers in meeting the statutory and regulatory compliance requirements across sectors due to the outbreak of Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19)

The prolonged lockdown and closure of Courts and Tribunals has had a debilitating impact on lawyers. They have been driven to penury and are forced to travel with migrant labour in a desperate bid to get to their hometowns

The ITAT Mumbai Bench has released the Constitution as well as the Cause List for hearing of appeals with effect from 8th June 2020

The Income Tax Settlement Commission (ITSC) has sent the grim information that Shri S.D. Jha, the Vice-Chairman of ITsC Delhi, has been tested COVID-19 Positive. Since ITsC and the ITAT Delhi Benches are sharing office premises at the Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi on day to day basis, the ITAT Delhi Benches has taken preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and closed down the office at Lok Nayak Bhawan for the next two working days i.e. 4th & 5th June, 2020. All cases listed for virtual hearing on 4th & 5th June 2020 before ITAT Delhi are adjourned sine-die and the next date of hearing will be announced in due course

Hon’ble Justice (R) Pradeep P. Bhatt, the President of the ITAT, has announced that an e-filing portal will soon be launched. The ld. President has pointed out that E-Filing is a norm and a standard expectation of the stakeholders today, and in line with the e-Governance policy of the Government of India. He has also stated that the facility of E-filing shall enable an economical and seamless filing of appeals and applications by the parties before the Tribunal. This initiative shall be of immense use to taxpayers, tax consultants and other stakeholders

The Comprehensive Digest of Case Laws, CBDT Circulars and articles, relating to the period from January 2019 to December 2019, is available for download. The Digest contains more than 2100 cases reported in various case-law reports such as ITR, Taxman, CTR, etc) as well as other journals, magazines etc. The cases are digested in the descending order i.e. Supreme Court, High Courts, Tribunal and Authority for Advance Rulings. It is notable that more than 100 judgements in the Digest are not yet reported by the leading journals

The Income tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) organized a virtual All India full Court reference on March 29, 2020 to honour Late Former Hon’ble President Mr. Vimal Gandhi who left for his heavenly abode on May 24, 2020