<h1>CBDT Issues New Guidelines for Tax Demand Stay During First Appeal, Standardizing 15% Pre-payment Requirement.</h1> The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued revised guidelines to streamline the process for granting a stay of tax demand during the First Appeal stage. These guidelines aim to reduce arbitrariness by standardizing the requirement for taxpayers to pay 15% of the disputed demand as a pre-condition for staying the demand. If an assessing officer proposes a deviation from this standard, the matter must be referred to a higher authority for a decision. Taxpayers can also request a review if aggrieved by the assessing officer's decision. This initiative is expected to provide significant relief to taxpayers by ensuring more consistent handling of stay petitions.