Pursuant to complaints from eminent citizens that the Income-tax Department is indulging in “tax terrorism” of start-up entities, a “startup cell” comprising of five high-ranking officials of the CBDT has been set up to redress grievances and address various tax related issues in the cases of Startups. The CBDT had earlier instructed AOs that no coercive measures to recover the outstanding demand should be taken if additions have been made u/s 56(2)(viib) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 read with Rule 11UA(2)

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is personally monitoring whether the Department is complying with the directive to withdraw low-tax effect appeals as set out in CBDT’s Circular Circular no. 17 of 2019 dated 08.08.2019. This is revealed by the letter dated 29th August 2019 addressed by the CBDT to the Pr Chief Commissioners of Income-tax. The CBDT has also stipulated vide letter dated 20th August, 2019 that all appeals below the monetary limit should be withdrawn by 31st October 2019

The CBDT has vide Office Order No. 184 of 2019 dated 26.08.2019 ordered transfer/postings (Local changes) of the officers in the grade of Joint Commissioner/Additional Commissioner of Income Tax with immediate effect and until further orders

The CBDT has issued a statement that an order being circulated on social media pertaining to extension of due dt for filing of IT Returns is not genuine. Taxpayers have been advised to file Returns within the extended due date of 31.08.2019

The CBDT has issued a directive dated 20th August, 2019 in which it has clarified that the enhanced monetary limits stipulated in Circular No. 17/2019 dated 8th August, 2019 is applicable to all pending SLPs/ appeals/ cross objections/references. The CBDT has also directed that all such pending appeals within the revised limits should be withdrawn on or before 31.10.2019. A fortnightly report as to progress on withdrawals has to be submitted by the officers on the field

The CBDT has vide Office Order No. 171 of 2019 dated 14.08.2019 ordered the transfers and postings of several officers in the grade of Additional and Joint Commissioners of Income-tax

The CBDT has issued Circular No. 19/2019 dated 14th August 2019 by which it has exercised its powers under section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and directed that no communication shall be issued by any income-tax authority relating to assessment, appeals, orders. statutory or otherwise, exemptions, enquiry, investigation. verification of information, penalty, prosecution, rectification, approval etc. to the assessee or any other person, on or after the 15th day of October, 2019 unless a computer-generated Document Identification Number (DIN) has been allotted and is duly quoted in the body of such communication. Some exceptions to the rule have also been stated

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent the chilling warning to all unscrupulous tax officials who harass honest taxpayers with a view to extorting money from them that their shenanigans will no longer be tolerated but they will instead be summarily sacked from service