“Limited Scrutiny ‘ cases can be converted into “Complete Scrutiny” with the approval of CIT only if there is potential escapement of income exceeding Rs. 5 Lakh (Rs. 10 Lakh for metro cities)

SCRUTINY




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“Limited  Scrutiny ‘  cases can be converted in to “Complete Scrutiny” with the approval of CIT only if  there  is  potential escapement  of  income  exceeding Rs. 5 Lakh (Rs. 10 Lakh for metro cities)

 

 

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes
North Block, New Delhi

Instruction No. 20/2015

Dated-29th of December, 2015

Subject: Scrutiny Assessments-some important issues and scope of scrutiny in cases selected through Computer Aided Scrutiny Selection (‘CASS’)-reg .-

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (‘CBDT’) , vide Instruction No. 7/2014 dated 26 09.2014 had clarified the extent of enquiry in certain category of cases specified therein , which are selected for scrutiny through CASS . Further clarifications have been sought regarding the scope and applicability of the aforesaid Instruction to cases being scrutinized.

  1. In order to facilitate the conduct of scrutiny assessments and to bring further clarity on some of the issues emerging from the aforesaid Instruction, following clarifications are being made.

i    Year of applicability : As stated in the Instruction No. 7/2014 , the said Instruction is applicable only  in respect of the cases selected for scrutiny through CASS-2014

ii   Whether the said Instruction is applicable to al l cases selected under CASS : The  said Instruction is applicable where the case is selected for scrutiny under CASS only on the parameter(s ) of AIR /CIB/26AS data . If a case has been selected under CASS for any other reason(s)/parameter (s) besides the AIR /CIB/26AS data , then the said  Instruction  would  not apply.

iii   Scope of Enquiry : Specific issue based enquiry is to be conducted only in those scrutiny cases which have been selected on the parameter(s ) of AIR/CIB/26AS data . In such cases , the Assess ing Officer , shall also confine the Questionnaire only to the specific issues pertaining to AIR/CIB/26AS data . Wider scrutiny in these cases can only be conducted as per the guidelines and procedures stated in Instruction No. 7/2014.

iv Reason for selection: In cases under scrutiny for verification of AIR/CIB/26AS data , the Assessing Officer has to intimate the reason for selection of case for scrutiny to the assessee concerned.

  1. As far as the returns selected for scrutiny through CASS-2015  are concerned , two type of cases have been  selected for scrutiny  in the  current  Financial  Year- one  is ‘Limited  Scrutiny’  and other  is ‘Complete  Scrutiny’ .  The  assessees  concerned  have  duly  been  intimated  about  their  cases falling either in ‘Limited Scrutiny’ or  ‘Complete Scrutiny’ through notices issued under  section  143(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘Act’). The procedure for handling ‘Limited Scrutiny’ cases shall be as under:
  2. In ‘Limited Scrutiny ‘ cases , the reasons/issues shall be forthwith communicated to the assessee concerned.
  3. The Questionnaire under section 142( 1) of the Act in ‘Limited Scrutiny ‘ cases shall remain confined only to the specific reasons/issues for which case has been picked up for scrutiny . Further . the scope of enquiry shall be restricted to the ‘Limited Scrutiny ‘ issues.
  4. These cases shall be completed expeditiously in a limited number of hearings.
  5. During the course  of  assessment  proceedings  in ‘ Limited  Scrutiny ‘  cases,  if  it comes  to  the notice of  the  Assessing  Officer  that  there  is  potential escapement  of  income  exceeding Rs. five  lakhs  (for  metro charges , the  monetary  limit shall  be Rs. ten  lakhs) requiring  substantial verification on any other issue(s) , then , the case may be taken up for ‘Complete Scrutiny ‘ with the approval of the Pr. CIT/CIT concerned . However , such an approval shall be accorded by the by the Pr. CIT/CIT in writing after being satisfied about merits of the issue(s)  necessitating ‘Complete Scrutiny’ in that particular case. Such cases shall be monitored by the Range Head concerned . The procedure indicated at points (a), (b)  and (c)  above  shall  no  longer  remain binding in such cases. (For the present purpose, ‘Metro charges ‘ would mean  Delhi,  Mumbai, Chennai,   Kolkata,   Bengaluru,  Hyderabad  and  Ahmedabad ).
  6. The Board further desires that in all cases under scrutiny, where the Assessing Officer proposes to make additions or disallowances , the assessee would be given a fair opportunity to explain his posit ion on the proposed additions/disallowances in accordance with the principle of natural justice . In this regard, the Assessing Officer shall issue an appropriate show-cause notice duly indicating the reasons for the proposed additions/disallowances  along with  necessary  evidences/reasons forming the basis of the same . Before passing the final order against the proposed additions/disallowances due consideration shall be given to the submissions made by the assessee in response to the show­ cause notice.
  7. The contents of this Instruction should be immediately brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.
  8. Hindi version to follow.

(Ankita Pandey)

Under Secretary to Government of India

(F. No. 225/269/2015-ITA.II)

 




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