The CBDT has issued a press release dated 20.11.2015 stating that the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech, 2015 has indicated that the rate of corporate tax will be reduced from 30% to 25% over the next four years along with corresponding phasing out of exemptions and deductions. This is a step towards simplification of tax laws, which is expected to bring about transparency and clarity. The CBDT has identified the precise provisions that will be affected as a result of the phasing out plan. The CBDT has invited comments on the aforesaid phasing out plan within 15 days

In National Petroleum Construction Company Vs. DIT in ITA Nos. 143, 144, 533/2013 and 795/2014, the Delhi High Court in its order dt. 13.08.2015, dt. 20.08.2015 and 28.09.2015 directed the Income Tax Department to formulate and implement a standard operating procedure on the following three issues:

(i) Issue No.1:- A mechanism should be put in place for immediate and seamless transfer of cases from one standing counsel to another so that unnecessary adjournments are not sought by the counsels on the ground of lack of formal order of allocation, want of instructions or papers. The lTD to ensure that in none of the matters there is a situation where (a) there is no one appearing for the lTD (b) even if they are, they have neither instructions nor papers. It will be responsibility of the lTD to ensure that the standing counsel who have been assigned the cases have the complete records. It should not be an excuse for Standing Counsel of the lTD to take adjournment on the ground that they have no instructions or that they do not have the case papers.

Pursuant to the solemn promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that a mechanism would be set up to ensure that Assessing Officers are accountable for the unreasonable additions that they make in the assessment order, the CBDT has issued Instruction No. 17/2015 dated 09.11.2015 in which it has admitted that the tendency of the AOs to frame high-pitched and unreasonable assessment orders reflects harassment of taxpayers and leads to generation of unproductive work for the Department.

The CBDT has consequently set up a committee of high-ranking officials which will examine whether there is a prima-facie case of high-pitched assessment, non-observance of principles of natural justice, non-application of mind , gross negligence or lack of involvement of assessing officer. The Committee would ascertain whether the addition made in assessment order are not backed by any sound reason or logic, the provisions of law have grossly been misinterpreted or obvious and well established facts on records have out rightly been ignored. The Committee would also take into consideration whether the principles of natural justice have been followed by the assessing officer. If it is established that unreasonable and high-pitched additions have been made by the assessing officer, a report would be sent to the Pr. CCIT by the Local Committee who will then take suitable administrative action against the Assessing Officer. Further, the departmental position as determined by the Local Committee in such cases would be appropriately presented before the Appellate Authorities so that litigation is curtailed.

It is common experience that Assessing Officers have the tendency to make huge additions and disallowances on frivolous grounds and raise huge tax demands. Coercive measures are adopted to recover the said demands. This causes immense hardship to honest taxpayers.

There are two reasons for the modus operandi of the Assessing Officers. The first is that the CBDT has/ had a policy of rewarding officers with plum postings and promotions based on the tax collected by them (see Collect Taxes; Get Promotion & Choice Posting: CBDT Chief). The second is that some unscrupulous officers get an excuse to demand bribes from the taxpayers (see Chief CIT Used Strong-Arm Techniques To Extort Bribe From Hapless Taxpayers: CBI Report).

The Ministry of Finance has issued a Notification dated 29.10.2015 in which it is stated that where the variation between the arm’s length price determined under section 92C and the price at which the international transaction or specified domestic transaction has actually been undertaken does not exceed one percent of the latter in respect of wholesale trading and three percent of the latter in all other cases, the price at which the international transaction or specified domestic transaction has actually been undertaken shall be deemed to be the arm’s length price for Assessment Year 2015-2016

On an earlier occasion, the CBDT had issued Instruction in F. No. 500/98/2015-FT&TR-V dated 14th August, 2015 in which it had lamented the fact of poor representation on behalf of the department in the cases before the Authority of Advance Rulings. It had issued instructions that only senior officials who are well prepared on facts and law should be deputed so as to effectively represent the Departmental view on complex issues. The CBDT has now issued another Instruction F.No.225/261/2015/ITA.II dated 28.10.2015 in which it has taken exception to the fact that:

(i) Departmental Representatives are seeking adjournment on unjustified grounds;

(ii) Departmental Representatives not committing to a particular position on the ground of seeking further instructions from the field authorities;

(iii) All the questions raised in an application not properly responded to, while furnishing the report.

In order to deal with the malaise, the CBDT has issued clear-cut directions and warned that the said directions should be followed strictly.

Aayakar Sampark Kendra (ASK) is one of the initiatives of the Income Tax Department to provide Taxpayer Information and Services to the taxpayers across the country. At present five call centers of Aayakar Sampark Kendra (One NCC at Gurgaon and four RCCs at Jammu, Jangipur, Kochi and Shillong) are functioning to answer queries related to the status of PAN & TAN applications, procedure of filing of Income tax & Wealth tax returns, downloading of calls and other general queries. Taxpayers have also been provided a facility to register grievances through email through the call centers of ASK

The CBDT has issued a press release dated 27.10.2015 stating that a Committee comprising of eminent legal luminaries has been set up to simplify the provisions of the Income-tax Act. The Committee comprises of luminaries such as Justice R.V. Easwar, (Retd.), former Judge, Delhi High Court and former President, ITAT and other eminent advocates and lawyers

The CBDT has issued a press release dated 27.10.2015 stating that the Income-tax Department is committed to the ‘Digital India’ initiative of the Government of India.The Finance Minister today launched an “e-Sahyog” pilot project which furthers the Department’s commitment to work in an e-environment and reduces the need for the taxpayer to physically appear before tax authorities

Pursuant to the recent arrest of Principal Commissioner Sailendra Mamidi and other top officials by the CBI for allegedly demanding and receiving bribes from taxpayers, the CBI has filed a report in Court in which it has presented an alleged nefarious nexus between fixers, businessmen and corrupt Income Tax Department officials.