Income tax return forms: clarifications on schedules SH, AL, PAN placeholders, form selection and exemption entries.
Clarifies procedural requirements for ITR 5, ITR 6 and ITR 7 filing for AY 2019 20: how to record transferred shareholdings in Schedule SH I/SH 2 (use transfer date as "Date of allotment" and original allottee values), use of default PAN placeholders where PAN is unavailable, exemption from Schedule SH I for section 8/25 companies via utility dropdown, preliminary dropdown in Schedule AL I/AL 2 to avoid filling asset tables, ITR 5 taxing at MMR when AOP/BOI member details are missing, correct form selection for private trusts, direct entry of exempt income for investment funds/business trusts in Part B TI, and treatment of corpus donations and other exemption claims in ITR 7 via specified Part A/Part B entries.

Faceless assessment for specified machinery imports automates virtual-group processing to streamline clearance and reduce dwell time.
A pilot faceless assessment under Turant Customs will automatically queue and assign Bills of Entry for Chapter 84 to a system-nominated Virtual Group for scrutiny of assessment and import permissibility, with forwarding to shed/CFS for examination per RMS or examination orders; importers and customs brokers must upload requisite documents via e-Sanchit to facilitate prompt assessment.

Installation deadline for radiation portal monitors extended; non compliant seaports face derecognition for unshredded metallic scrap imports.
The Handbook of Procedures amendment extends the deadline for installation and operationalisation of Radiation Portal Monitors and Container Scanners at designated seaports; seaports that fail to meet the extended requirement will be derecognised for the purpose of imports of un shredded metallic scrap effective from the start of the subsequent import control period.

Declaration eligibility in legacy dispute resolution clarified: voiding of ineligible filings and specific appeals and arrears treatment.
Only eligible persons may file declarations under the Scheme; ineligible declarations made by incorrect responses are void. Appeals pending before forums other than highest courts are deemed withdrawn, including departmental appeals, while appeals or writs before the highest courts require formal departmental withdrawal applications after issuance of a discharge certificate. Each unpaid-return is a separate case; amount in arrears and tax dues are the net outstanding duty after prior payments, and relief is applied to that net amount with pre-deposits adjusted thereafter. A written binding waiver of appeal is required where a taxpayer chooses not to file an available appeal.

Valuation of money market and debt securities shifted to security level pricing using a mandated waterfall and agency-driven poll governance.
SEBI requires security level pricing for money market and debt securities using a documented waterfall approach by valuation agencies and AMFI. Traded/non-traded definitions are updated; amortization-based valuation is permitted transiently with comparison to agency reference prices, after which all securities must be valued from agency security level prices. Government securities are always agency-priced. Polling protocols, mandatory participation, governance, NAV timeline extension, disclosure of any deviations with rationale, prohibition on use of own trades for valuation, inter-scheme transfer pricing rules, and uniform treatment for below investment grade or default securities are mandated.

Transhipment of export cargo via LCSs to Nhava Sheva requires a Bill of Transhipment, ECTS seals and a bond.
The pilot permits transhipment from Bangladesh through specified LCSs to Nhava Sheva, requiring filing a Bill of Transshipment in triplicate, sealing the cargo with an ECTS seal (seal number declared), and furnishing a bond equal to twice the value of the goods. Cargo movement must be under customs supervision, mixed consignments for discharge in India are prohibited, and at the port the superintendent verifies ECTS seal integrity, records the sea manifest and trip report, after which the bond may be credited or cancelled.

All Industry Rates applicability ends post GST; exporters must claim unrefunded duties on actual basis under drawback rules.
Pre GST circulars allowing All Industry Rates (AIRS) for certain exempt inputs no longer apply in the post GST era because GST subsumes central excise and allows input tax credit/refund. Duties not refunded or neutralized post GST may be claimed by exporters on an actual basis under Rule 6 and Rule 7 of the Customs, Central Excise Duties Drawback Rules, 2017; exporters may approach the Brand Rate Unit for assistance.

GST taxpayer allocation establishes a single administrative interface between Central and State tax authorities for registered persons.
GST taxpayer administration in Rajasthan is allocated between Central Tax and State Tax authorities to maintain a single interface for registered persons. Six previously unallocated taxpayers are assigned to either the Centre or the State according to the specified turnover categories. Taxpayers may verify their assigned authority through designated websites and report discrepancies or missing details to either authority for rectification by the State Level Committee.

Extension of BEN 2 filing deadline allows filing without additional fee until the announced cutoff; BEN 1 timing aligns accordingly.
Extension of time to file e Form BEN 2 without payment of additional fee is permitted up to 31.12.2019, after which normal fee and additional fee provisions apply; the filing date for Form BEN 1 shall be construed accordingly to align with the BEN 2 extension.

Startup grievance redressal: mandatory expedited reporting and local startup cells ensure swift departmental accountability within prescribed short timeframes.
Grievances of Startups must be handled sensitively and with expedited reporting: submit a preliminary Action Taken Report by the next working day after the central office calls for a report and a final Action Taken Report within three working days; local Principal Commissioners may constitute Startup Cells and the concerned Commissioner remains accountable for grievances in their charge.

Composition levy option clarified for eligible registered persons, including filing procedure, PAN-wide application, and effective date.
Clarification is issued on the exercise of the option to pay State tax at the rate of three percent under Notification No. 281 dated 09 April 2019 for eligible registered persons. The option may be exercised by filing Form GST CMP-02 and Form GST ITC-03, or by indicating the option in Form GST REG-01 at the time of registration. The option applies to all places of business under the same PAN and takes effect from the commencement of the financial year or from the date of new registration.

Airport retail tax refund scheme for indigenous goods supplied to eligible international tourists without collecting domestic taxes.
Refund of tax paid on inward supplies of indigenous goods to retail shops located beyond immigration counters in the departure area of international airports was prescribed for supplies made to eligible international tourists in exchange for foreign currency. Retail shops entitled to claim refund must be registered under the SGST Act and hold a valid GSTIN. Supplies of indigenous goods to eligible passengers are treated as taxable supplies under GST but are exempted by the relevant notifications, so such supplies must be made without collecting tax from the passenger and refund may be claimed only in the manner specified.

RWA maintenance charges GST exemption applies up to the per-member monthly limit, with turnover and ITC rules shaping liability.
GST liability on monthly contributions charged by a Residential Welfare Association depends on the per-member monthly amount and the RWA's aggregate turnover. Services and goods supplied by an RWA for collective use are exempt up to Rs. 7,500 per member per month. If the RWA's annual aggregate turnover is below Rs. 20 lakh, registration and GST payment are not required even where the charge exceeds Rs. 7,500. RWAs may also claim Input Tax Credit on capital goods, goods and input services used for member supplies.

Goods taken abroad for exhibition or consignment are not a supply until sale or expiry of the six-month period.
Goods sent or taken outside India for exhibitions or on consignment basis for export promotion are not a supply merely by reason of outward movement, unless covered by Schedule I. Such movement is therefore not a zero-rated supply, and the outward dispatch must be supported by a delivery challan and prescribed records. A tax invoice arises only when the goods are sold abroad or when six months expire without sale or return. Refund is not available at dispatch, but may be claimed only when the later supply becomes eligible under the refund rules.

Advanced Queue Management System requiring e-token registration now governs visitor access and entry to appraising groups, enforcing token-only entry.
Implementation of an Advanced Queue Management System at JNCH makes e-token registration mandatory for visitors seeking to meet Deputy/Assistant Commissioners or appraising officers. Electronic kiosks generate paper tokens showing queue position; visitors are permitted entry only when their token number is displayed. The system aims to facilitate trade and prevent unauthorised loitering; operational difficulties are to be reported to the designated nodal officer.

Risk management for liquid funds: mandatory liquid asset holdings, ban on bank short term deposit parking, fee and NAV changes.
Liquid and overnight funds must maintain a minimum proportion of assets in liquid assets (cash, government securities, T bills, repo on government securities) and restore such exposure before further investments if it falls below the threshold. These funds are barred from parking monies in short term deposits of scheduled commercial banks and from investing in debt with structured obligation or credit enhancement ratings, except government guaranteed securities. AMCs cannot charge investment management or advisory fees for parking funds in short term deposits; NAV cut off for purchases is set earlier and an exit load applies to very short term redemptions on fresh investments.

Duty drawback on FOB value allowed despite foreign bank charges; excess agency commission or bank fees must be adjusted.
Duty drawback may be granted on FOB value without deducting foreign bank charges where such charges are documented and fall within the administratively permitted overall agency commission allowance; if the combined agency commission and foreign bank charges exceed that allowance, the excess must be deducted from FOB for drawback. Exporters can seek case by case regularisation with documentary evidence and field formations should reconsider issued recovery notices accordingly.

National e-Assessment Centre establishment centralises e-assessment functions under designated income-tax authorities and staffing provisions.
Establishment of a National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) under the E-assessment Scheme, 2019, with headquarters at Delhi and a specified constitution of designated Income-tax authorities across senior and subordinate ranks; NeAC will be supported by ministerial, executive, or consultant staff provided by the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax (CCA), Delhi in consultation with the Board.

GST Council: extensions and return waivers, ITC cap for unmatched invoices, new return rollout, e way and rate rationalisation.
The Council received the XV Finance Commission's address on revenue buoyancy, compliance gaps and compensation cess shortfalls and agreed to a consultative mechanism; approved deemed ratification of recent Central/State notifications; adopted Law Committee recommendations including retrospective recognition of GSTR 3B as a return, waiver/optional filing of specified annual returns for small/composition taxpayers, and restrictions on ITC where supplier details are not uploaded (cap at 20%); extended existing return timelines and set new return rollout from 01 April 2020; approved multiple fitment rate changes (notably hotel/catering and wet grinders), constituted GoMs on IGST settlement and e way issues for gold, and advanced IT reforms including Aadhaar e KYC, e invoicing trials, RFID FASTag integration and single authority refunds.

Disposal of confiscated drones: transfer to defence and security agencies free-of-cost subject to regulatory compliance.
Guidelines require confiscated drones to be inventoried, DGCA-classified and transferred when "ripe for disposal" to four focal Customs Commissionerates for centralised stocking, joint inspection and distribution. DRI and Customs field formation needs are met first; remaining stock is allocated equally to the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs after nodal-officer joint inspections. Transfers are on a gratis, as-is where-is basis; recipients must ensure DGCA and WPC compliance, provide documentation, and are prohibited from reselling drones, which must be destroyed at end-of-life. Records and acknowledgements are mandatory.