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

The CBDT has issued an important directive dated 22nd November 2018 to the Pr CCsIT and DGsIT regarding requests for exchange of information from field offices of time barring assessment cases

The CBDT has issued an important directive dated 19th November 2018 0n the issue of treatment of service charge taken from customers by the hotels/restaurants under the Income-tax Act, 1961

The CBDT has issued an office order no. 193 of 2018 dated 15th November 2018 by which it has ordered officers in the grade of Pr. CCIT and CCIT to hold the charge(s) indicated against their names, in addition to their substantive charge/ additional charge(s), if any, being held by them, with immediate effect and until further orders