The Constitution of the Bombay High Court’s Tax Bench w.e.f 10.07.2017 is as follows

The CBDT has issued Instruction No. 5/2017 dated 7th July 2017 by which it has laid down the procedure and criteria for compulsory manual selection of returns/cases requiring scrutiny during the financial-year 2017-2018. It is also stated that cases are also being selected under CASS-2017 (Computer Aided Scrutiny Selection) on the basis of broad based selection filters and in a non-discretionary manner in two categories of Limited Scrutiny & Complete Scrutiny

The CBDT has released the “Central Action Plan for 2017-18” in which it has inter alia dealt with the issue of “litigation management’. The CBDT has laid out a clear cut strategy for reducing appeals pending before the CIT(A), ITAT and Courts. Systematic targets have been set out in which the number of appeals with time-frame for disposal are specified

Hon’ble Sushil Chandra, the Chairman of the CBDT, has addressed a stern letter dated 6th July 2017 in which he has pointed out that the growth in revenue is not satisfactory on several parameters. The learned Chairman has given facts and figures to support his proposition. He has directed all officers to take all measures to increase revenue collection and also stated that if revenue is not forthcoming from one Head/ source, alternate sources may be concentrated upon to make up for the deficit

The CBDT has vide Order No. 113 of 2017 dated 04.07.2017 ordered the postings and transfers of several officers in the grade of Commissioner of Income-tax with immediate effect and until further orders

The CBDT has issued Notification No. 57 /2017 dated 3rd July 2017 by which it has specified several transactions which are exempt from the provisions of section 269ST which prohibits cash receipt of Rs. 2 lakhs

The CBDT has issued Notification No. 58/2017 dated 3rd July 2017 by which amendments to the tax Audit report Form required to be issued in Form 3CD have been carried out so as to incorporate details of loans, deposits and advances which are covered by sections 269SS and 269T. The amendments are effective from 19th July 2017

The CBDT has issued Notification No. 7 of 2017 dated 29th June 2017 in which it has specified the procedure for intimating the AADHAAR number to the Income-tax Department by Permanent Account Number (PAN) holder and quoting of the same in PAN applications in compliance of section 139AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961

The CBDT has vide Order Nos. 110 and 111 of 2017, both dated 27.06.2017, ordered the postings and transfers of several officers in the grade of Additional, Joint and Principal Commissioner of Income-tax with immediate effect and until further orders

Hon’ble RM Lodha, the former Chief Justice of India, and other eminent legal luminaries, have voiced their opposition at the action of the Government in enacting the Tribunal Members Rules 2017. Under the said Rules, the Central Government has abrogated to itself the right to appoint, extend the tenure, and remove, the Hon’ble Members of the various Tribunals, including the ITAT. The luminaries are apprehensive that the appointments of Members of the Tribunal would no longer be impartial and independent and that the Hon’ble Members may be wary of taking bold decisions against the Government

The ITAT Bar Association Mumbai has made a detailed representation to Shri. Arun Jaitley, the Hon’ble Finance Minister of India, with respect to Part XIV of the Finance Act, 2017 and notification of the Tribunal, Appellate Tribunal and other Authorities (Qualifications, Experience and other conditions of service of Members) Rules, 2017 in so far as it concerns the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal