The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, gave its approval to the following:-

 i. Creation of two additional benches of the Authority for Advance Rulings (Income Tax), one in New Delhi and one new bench in Mumbai;

 ii. creation of two posts of Vice-Chairmen in the Apex scale and four posts of Members (two posts of Revenue Members and two posts of Law Members) in the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG+) and two posts of Secretary at the level of Commissioner of Income Tax/Joint Secretary; and

 iii. one time expenditure of ₹ 7.48 crores for establishment of the two additional benches and additional annual recurring expenditure of ₹ 6.61 crores for running these two additional benches.

 The creation of two additional benches of the Authority would dispose of increased number of cases and pendency of cases would be reduced benefitting the tax payer and the Government. Besides, this will operationalise the facility of advance ruling for resident tax payers. The proposed additional Benches of Authority for Advance Rulings (Income Tax) will facilitate the cause of the resident tax payers in obtaining tax clarity in certain situations.

Background

 In order to provide the facility of ascertaining the Income-tax liability of a non¬resident/ to plan their Income-tax affairs well in advance and to avoid long drawn and expensive litigation, a scheme of Advance Rulings was introduced under the Income-Tax Act, 1961 and the Authority for Advance Rulings was constituted. A non-resident or certain categories of resident can obtain binding rulings from the Authority on question of law or fact arising out of any transaction/proposed transactions which are relevant for the determination of his tax liability.

 In order to enable resident taxpayers to obtain an advance ruling in respect of their income tax liability above a defined threshold, it has been decided to strengthen the Authority for Advance Rulings by constituting additional benches.

Advance Rulings facility expanded to reduce pendency and enable residents to obtain binding tax clarity for planning transactions. Creation of two additional benches of the Authority for Advance Rulings (Income Tax) with specified senior appointments and funding is intended to reduce pendency, handle increased caseloads, and extend the operational facility of binding advance rulings to resident taxpayers above a defined threshold for advance ascertainment and planning of income-tax liability.