Retrospective taxation means bringing changes in the legislation which impact the tax consequences of certain actions undertaken before the enactment of such legislation.

The policy of the Government in respect of retrospective taxation has been spelt out in the speech of the Finance Minister while present the Finance (No.2) Bill, 2014 in the Lok Sabha on 10.7.2014 wherein it was stated that:

• The Government will not ordinarily bring about any change retrospectively which creates a fresh liability;
• Cases which have come up in various courts and other legal fora consequent upon certain retrospective amendments to the Income-tax Act, 1961 undertaken through the Finance Act, 2012 are at different stages of pendency and will naturally reach their logical conclusion; and
• All fresh cases arising out of the retrospective amendments of 2012 in respect of indirect transfers and coming to the notice of the Assessing Officers will be scrutinized by a High Level Committee to be constituted by the CBDT before any action is initiated in such cases.

Government has constituted a three member Committee of officers by order dated 28.8.2014 under Section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for approval of the action to eb initiated by the Assessing Officer in fresh cases arising out of retrospective amendments of 2012 in respect of indirect transfer of assets.

The Committee is required to submit its first report in respect of references decided by it for the period ending 31.12.2014.

This information was given by the Minister of State of Finance, Shri Jayant Sinha in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha

Retrospective taxation scrutiny: fresh indirect-transfer cases require committee approval before assessing officers initiate action under prescribed procedure. For fresh cases arising from the 2012 retrospective amendments concerning indirect transfers, assessing officers must obtain approval from a three member Committee of officers constituted under statutory authority before initiating any action; the Committee will scrutinize such cases and submit its first report on references decided for the period ending 31 December 2014.