Withholding refunds: guidance to convert cases to scrutiny and withhold refunds pending higher judicial stay.

Departments must expedite hearing of stay applications, convert affected matters into scrutiny assessments by issuing notices under section 143(2), keep such assessments pending until the Supreme Court disposes of stay applications, withhold refunds otherwise payable under provisional assessment provisions and, if necessary, use the statutory withholding power from the Direct Tax Laws amendment; a detailed report of actions must be sent to the Board and instructions issued for immediate implementation.

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