The Income-tax return (ITR) forms for the Assessment Year 2019-20 have been notified on 01.04.2019. Subsequently, queries have been raised by the stakeholders in respect of filling-up of the ITR forms. These queries are primarily in respect of the reporting of certain details in the ITR forms, such as reporting of directorship in a foreign company, reporting of equity shares listed outside India, unlisted shares which were previously listed, reporting of unlisted shares received by way of gift, will, amalgamation etc. and reporting of certain assets held as stock-in-trade.

The queries have been examined by CBDT and have been clarified vide Circular No. 18 /2019 dated 08th August, 2019. A copy of the Circular has been placed on www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

Income-tax return reporting requirements clarified to guide disclosure of foreign directorships, overseas shares, unlisted shares and stock-in-trade. Clarifications address reporting of directorships in foreign companies, equity shares listed outside India, unlisted shares previously listed, unlisted shares received by gift, will or amalgamation, and assets treated as stock-in-trade, and instruct taxpayers on the correct disclosure fields and characterisation for completion of the income-tax return forms; an administrative circular consolidates these instructions and is published on the official income-tax website for reference.