Assessment procedure reforms expand intimation, deemed firm registration and refund withholding to remedy procedural anomalies.

Amendments recalibrate the assessment procedure to align with the new framework by providing for deemed registration of firms upon filing where no assessment order is made, restoring pre-amendment rules for assessments of the year beginning 1 April 1988 and earlier, expanding intimation obligations when adjustments to returns are made even if no tax is payable, authorising withholding of any refund under the Act, enabling adjustment of provisional collections or refunds against demands from regular assessments, and prescribing safeguards on notice periods and penalty limitation to prevent time-bar anomalies.

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