The CBDT has issued a letter dated 11th December 2018 by which it has issued an important clarification regarding the filing of low tax effect appeals by the Department as stipulated in Circular No. 3 of 2018 dated 11.07.2018 and letter issued vide No. 279 /Misc.142/2007 -ITJ(Pt) dated 20.08.2018

The CBDT has issued Instruction No. 10 dated 6th December 2018 by which it has specified the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that has to be followed by Assessing Officers when dealing with ITR Processing or Assessment in suspected Fraud cases

The CBDT has issued Notification No. 06/2018 dated 06th December, 2018 by which important clarification has been provided on the issue of TDS deduction under section 194A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 in case of Senior Citizens

The CBDT has vide Office Order No. 210 of 2018 dated 3rd December 2018 ordered the transfers and postings of officers in the grade of Assistant and Deputy Commissioners of Income-tax with immediate effect and until further orders

The CBDT has issued a directive dated 28th of November, 2018 in which it has explained the scope of enquiry in Limited Scrutiny cases selected under CASS cycles 2017 and 2018 in the context of information provided by any law-enforcement /intelligence/ regulatory authority or agency

Shri Aditya Vikram, Member of the CBDT, has issued a directive dated 29th November 2018 to the Pr CsIT stating that a large number of time barring scrutiny assessments are pending for completion. The pendency is as much as 85% in some regions. Clear-cut instructions have been issued to emphasize timely review of pendency by all supervisory officers and strict enforcement of directions to Assessing Officers for early completion of time-barring scrutiny cases would avoid last minute rush and anxiety

The CBDT has issued Office Order no. 197 of 2018 dated 28th November 2018 by which it has stated that the President has extended the ad-hoc appointment of several IRS officers to the grade of Joint Commissioners of Income-tax from 01.10.2018 to 31.03.2019 or upto the date of their regular appointment, whichever is earlier

The CBDT has issued a directive dated 27 November, 2018 by which it has outlined the measures to be taken by the Department to avoid refund frauds and leakage of confidential data in accordance with the guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission. All Pr. Commissioners of Income Tax, Pr. Directors of Income Tax (Inv) and Commissioners of Income Tax (Appeals) have been advised to ensure strict compliance of the guidelines and implement the same in letter and spirit

The CBDT has issued Instruction No. 6/2018 dated 22nd November 2018 by which it has explained in detail the procedure for dealing with Rulings received from other jurisdictions under BEPS Action 5. An explanation has been provided regarding the following taxpayer-specific rulings, being (i) rulings relating to preferential regimes; (ii) unilateral APAs or other cross-border unilateral rulings in respect of transfer pricing; (iii) cross-border rulings providing for a downward adjustment of taxable profits; (iv) permanent establishment PE. rulings; (v) related party conduit rulings and (vi) Miscellaneous rulings which may be included at a later date as decided by the Forum on Harmful Tax Practices