Vodafone’s invocation of the BIPA (“Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement”) between India and the Netherlands to challenge the proposed retrospective amendments to nullify the verdict of the Supreme Court has met with hostile reaction from the Inter-Ministerial Group which has been set up to draft an appropriate reply to Vodafone’s notice. The group is headed by Finance Secretary R S Gujral and comprises secretaries of the department of economic affairs, the law ministry, the telecom ministry and the external affairs ministry

The Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Pune invites applications from qualified Chartered Accountants/firms of CAs for empanelment to carryout Special Audit u/s 142(2A) of the I.T.Act, 1961. The remuneration for the Special Audit is governed by Rule 14B of the I.T.Rules, 1962

The Finance Bill 2012 (original) as amended by the amendments made on 7.5.2012 and passed by the Lok Sabha on 8.5.2012 is available for download

Porus F. Kaka Appointed President of IFA Worldwide

Vide Order No. 83 of 2012 dated 8.5.2012, the CBDT has transferred and posted several Assistant Commissioners of Income-tax with immediate effect

The rate of service tax has been restored to 12% w.e.f. 1st April 2012. Representations have been received requesting clarification on the rate of tax applicable wherein invoices were raised before 1st April 2012 and the payments shall be after 1st April 2012. Clarification has been requested in case of the 8 specified services provided by individuals or proprietary firms or partnership firms, to which Rule 7 of Point of Taxation Rules 2011 was applicable and services on which tax is paid under reverse charge

The following is the speech delivered by Shri. Pranab Mukerjee, Finance Minister, while moving the amendments to the Finance Bill 2012 on 7th May 2012

The Finance Minister today (7th May 2012) introduced amendments to the Finance Bill 2012. The text of the amendments is available.

The Government of India has vide Office Memorandum dated 3.5.2012 issued guidelines to avoid delay in grant of sanction for prosecution of public servants. One of the measures is that it is now mandatory for the competent authority to take a decision on whether or not to grant sanction for prosecution within 3 months and pass a speaking order giving reasons for this decision. If the competent authority refuses permission for sanction to prosecute, it has to submit its order including reasons for refusal, to the next higher authority for information within 7 days.