GST assessment compliance duties for scrutiny, non-filers, cancelled registrations, and unregistered persons under Assam GST.
Assessment functions under the Assam GST Act, 2017 are directed to be actively carried out by proper officers to detect non-compliance, verify returns, and address revenue leakage through the prescribed statutory mechanisms. The instruction emphasises scrutiny of returns under section 61 for registered persons, including annual returns, with discrepancies to be communicated in the prescribed forms and pending scrutiny to be completed within the stated timelines, followed by action taken reports to the administrative office. Assessment of non-filers under section 62 is required where registered persons fail to furnish returns after notice, including taxpayers whose registration has been suspended or cancelled and who remain liable for filing final returns. Proper officers are directed to maintain lists of non-filers, proceed to best-judgment assessment in the prescribed form where returns remain unfiled, and complete the related action reporting in the specified format within the stated time. Assessment of persons covered by section 63 is addressed for unregistered persons and also for cancelled registrants who filed final returns but are found liable for additional tax. The instruction also links this framework with the centralized suspension and cancellation process, including issuance of notices, taxpayer replies, revocation of suspension where appropriate, and continuation or cancellation of proceedings depending on the response.

SB005 invoice mismatch rectification enables permanent officer-interface processing of export IGST refund claims upon payment of prescribed service fee.
The officer-interface mechanism for rectifying SB005 invoice-mismatch errors is permanently available for IGST refund claims on exports. Exporters may correct genuine data-entry mismatches between GST invoices and shipping-bill invoices for all past shipping bills, irrespective of filing date, by following the prescribed procedure and paying the specified service fee. Claims require a concordance table mapping GST invoices to shipping-bill invoices, supported by certified details of taxable value, IGST amounts and the final corrected IGST amount based on actual exports.

Virtual meetings for REITs and InvITs extended; annual and other unitholder meetings may be held via VC/OAVM.
Annual unitholder meetings due in calendar year 2021 for REITs and InvITs may be conducted via VC/OAVM until December 31, 2021, and meetings other than annual meetings may be held via VC/OAVM until June 30, 2021, subject to the procedure in Annexure I of the June 22, 2020 circular.

Faceless Penalty Scheme scope clarified: exclusions defined and penalties by Addl. CIT/JCIT and below assigned to NeAC.
Clarifies the scope of penalties under the Faceless Penalty Scheme, 2021: proceedings from the Investigation Wing, Directorate of I&CI, erstwhile DG (Risk-Assessment) or other prescribed authorities, penalties under statutes other than the Income-tax Act, and penalties imposed by officers at Commissioner/Director/Commissioner (Appeals/Appeal Unit) level and above are excluded. All remaining penalties under the Income-tax Act imposed by Additional CIT/JCIT and below are assigned to the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NeAC). The order is effective immediately.

FPI investment in defaulted bonds exempted from short-term limits and minimum residual maturity requirements under RBI directions.
FPIs are permitted to acquire NCDs/bonds under default in repayment of principal and such investments are exempted from the minimum residual maturity requirement, the short-term investment limit, and the investor limit applicable to FPI investment in corporate debt; this aligns their treatment with existing exemptions for security receipts, ARCs and approved CIRP resolution-plan instruments.

Dynamic QR Code requirement on B2C invoices: encoded payment and invoice details or recorded payment cross reference ensures compliance.
The Dynamic QR Code requirement applies to B2C tax invoices issued by registered persons exceeding the aggregate turnover threshold, excluding specified service categories and supplies treated as B2B by e invoicing. Dynamic QR Codes must contain supplier identification, payment routing, invoice number/date, total value and GST breakup, and be scannable for digital payment. An invoice is deemed compliant when it either contains the Dynamic QR Code or records a cross reference of the payment (transaction id, date/time, amount and mode), including for electronic payment flows; where payment is made after invoice issuance a Dynamic QR Code must be provided.

Provisional attachment under Section 83 protects revenue by allowing recorded, proportionate seizure of taxpayer property pending adjudication.
Guidelines prescribe that provisional attachment under Section 83 is available only during specified pending proceedings where the Commissioner, after due diligence, records an opinion that attachment is necessary to protect revenue. The Commissioner must issue a FORM GST DRC-22 with DIN, notify relevant authorities and the taxable person, consider objections and may release property by FORM GST DRC-23. Attachments should be proportionate to estimated revenue at risk, avoid unduly hampering business, prioritize immovable assets, and cease after one year or earlier upon release order; special rules apply for perishable goods and co-owned shares.

Dynamic QR Code compliance for B2C invoices permits payment cross-references, but requires QR codes for post-invoice payments.
Dynamic QR Code requirements apply to B2C invoices of registered persons whose annual aggregate turnover exceeded Rs. 500 crore in any financial year from 2017-18 onwards, subject to specified service-provider, OIDAR, and export exclusions. The QR Code must contain prescribed supplier, bank, invoice, value, and tax information and enable digital payment. Invoices may be deemed compliant where payment details are cross-referenced for digitally displayed QR Codes, alternative electronic payment modes, cash payments, pre-paid supplies, or e-commerce supplies. A Dynamic QR Code remains mandatory where payment is made after invoice issuance.

Correction of Reference Date: Circular's subject-date amended to the earlier date replacing the incorrect date.
Correction of reference date in Circular No. 07/2021-Customs: the subject-line date in the Circular dated 22.02.2021 is amended to read 29.07.2016 in place of the incorrectly stated date; this corrigendum formally notifies the administrative correction and directs reliance on the corrected date.

Online GST audit module streamlines case selection, pre-desk review, audit team assignment, reporting, and notice generation.
Online GST audit module procedures are prescribed for audit of registered persons for financial years 2017-18 and 2018-19. The module covers user ID creation by the Local Administrator, display of selected cases on officer dashboards, quarterly audit calendar generation, Pre-Desk Audit data entry, approval of the Pre-Desk Review Report by the Joint Commissioner, online remarks by the Zonal/Local Committee, audit team assignment, online recording of audit details, final report upload, and issue of notices for short payment of tax, interest and any other amount.

Town of Export Excellence designation: Noida recognised for apparel exports under Appendix 1B amendment by DGFT.
An amendment to Appendix 1B of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20 formally notifies Noida, Uttar Pradesh, as a Town of Export Excellence for Apparel products, made under the powers of paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 by Public Notice No. 40/2015-20.

Preferential Certificate of Origin electronic issuance expanded to include India Mercosur and India Thailand, mandating digital submissions and DSC.
Electronic issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO) is extended to India Mercosur and India Thailand trade agreements via the e CoO platform as the exclusive channel; the system will produce existing CoO copies plus an electronic copy with the issuing officer's image signature and agency stamp. Manual applications on or after the effective date must not be submitted. Applicants must use a Digital Signature Certificate (Class II or III) with the IEC embedded, register on the portal to receive credentials, and ensure IEC details in the DGFT database are current.

Pre-expiry margin increases on susceptible cash-settled commodity contracts to incentivize open interest reduction as expiry nears.
Pre-expiry margins shall be imposed on cash-settled commodity contracts identified as susceptible to near-zero or negative prices under the Alternate Risk Management Framework; these margins will be levied during the last five trading days prior to expiry and will increase by a fixed daily percentage each day, to be applied by exchanges and clearing corporations, effective from the first trading day of April.

Dynamic QR Code requirement for B2C invoices: invoiced QR or recorded payment cross reference qualifies as compliance.
Clarifies that the Dynamic QR Code requirement applies to B2C tax invoices issued by registered persons exceeding the turnover threshold, with specified exclusions (certain service providers, OIDAR, and exports treated as B2B). The QR must be scannable and contain supplier GSTIN, UPI ID, bank account/IFSC, invoice number/date, total value and GST breakup. An invoice bearing the QR or an invoice with a payment cross reference (transaction id, date, time, amount, payment mode) is deemed compliant; pre paid supplies are compliant if payment cross references appear, while post invoice payments require the QR on the invoice. E commerce and payment app transactions are addressed similarly, but individual supplier responsibility remains.

Jurisdiction transfer under Black Money Act directs centralisation of income-tax cases to central charges for coordinated handling.
Directs transfer of Black Money Act matters to Central Charges by competent jurisdictional authorities via orders under section 127 of the Income-tax Act; requires identification of parallel Income-tax proceedings including those under faceless regimes, coordination with NeAC/NFPC to return matters where necessary, and sending copies of transfer orders to the National Faceless Appeal Centre to facilitate transfer of appeals. Upon transfer, jurisdiction for the Black Money Act vests with the Central Charge, and designated officers in Central Charges shall perform Assessing Officer functions for transferred cases.

Provisional attachment of property to protect revenue requires recorded Commissioner opinion and may be contested and released administratively.
Provisional attachment under section 83 requires a recorded opinion by the Commissioner that attachment is necessary to protect Government revenue during specified pending proceedings, based on due diligence of facts and prima facie evidence. Attachment is ordered by FORM GST DRC-22, served on the taxable person and relevant authorities, and may be contested by objection and hearing; release is by FORM GST DRC-23. Attachments last one year unless earlier released, must approximate the estimated liability, favour immovable property to avoid business disruption, and include special rules for perishable goods, co-owned shares and statutory exemptions.

Dynamic QR Code requirement for B2C invoices - QR content and payment cross references determine compliance.
Notification requiring Dynamic QR Code applies to B2C tax invoices issued by registered persons above the turnover threshold, excluding specified service providers, OIDAR supplies by IGST registered persons, and export supplies treated as B2B. The Dynamic QR Code must include supplier GSTIN, UPI ID, bank account and IFSC, invoice number and date, total invoice value and GST breakup, and enable digital payment. An invoice is deemed compliant if it contains the Dynamic QR Code or, alternatively, if the supplier records on the invoice a cross reference of the payment (transaction id or cash reference with date); post invoice payments require the supplier to provide the QR Code.

Dynamic QR Code on B2C invoices required for eligible suppliers; payment cross references and electronic modes deemed compliant.
The circular clarifies that the Dynamic QR Code requirement applies to B2C tax invoices issued by registered suppliers exceeding the aggregate turnover threshold in any financial year from 2017 18, excluding specified service categories, OIDAR supplies by IGST registered persons, and supplies treated as exports subject to e invoicing. It prescribes QR content (GSTIN, UPI ID, bank account/IFSC, invoice number/date, total value, GST breakup) and confirms that an invoice is deemed compliant where the dynamic QR is displayed or where the supplier records a payment cross reference on the invoice; electronic payment modes capturing transaction details are similarly acceptable, while post invoice payments require the QR code to be provided.

GST registration suspension addresses significant return anomalies, requiring taxpayer explanation before cancellation proceedings are dropped or registration is cancelled.
Suspension of GST registration under rule 21A(2A) applies where return comparisons or other prescribed analysis disclose significant anomalies indicating contravention potentially leading to cancellation. Taxpayers receive reasons for suspension and a cancellation notice, and must reply within thirty days through FORM GST REG-18. Following examination of the reply or expiry of the response period, the proper officer may drop proceedings and restore active status through FORM GST REG-20, or cancel registration through FORM GST REG-19. Suspension may be revoked pending detailed verification and recovery, without preventing fresh cancellation proceedings where warranted.

AIDC exemption suspended where EOU basic customs duty relief is denied, requiring AIDC payment and monthly reporting.
Imports by EOUs enjoying BCD exemption under the EOU notification were notified as exempt from the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC), but where BCD exemption is denied or repaid-on DTA clearance of finished goods, inputs, capital goods, reusable packing, leftover textiles, exit from the scheme or breach of conditions-the corresponding AIDC exemption is also denied and AIDC must be paid in the same manner as the recovered BCD. Revised monthly digital Form A is mandated to monitor receipts, removals, returns and balances of such imported goods.