News agency status under Section 10(22B) confirmed, subject to income used solely for news collection and distribution.
The Central Government designates The Press Trust of India Limited as a news agency for assessment years 2014-15 and 2015-16, subject to the condition that its income is applied or accumulated solely for collection and distribution of news and is not distributed to its members.

Tax deduction approval under central provision: specified charitable projects permitted deduction for a limited three year approval period.
Central Government notification under Section 35AC approves nine institutions recommended by the National Committee for Promotion of Social and Economic Welfare, specifies the approved projects or schemes and their estimated costs, and fixes the maximum amounts of those costs which may be allowed as a deduction under the provision. The specified maximum deductible amounts are allocated over a three year approval period commencing with the financial year 2013 14 for the projects listed at serial numbers 1 to 9.

Tax exemption approval under section 10(23C)(vi) recognizes an educational society's status, subject to statutory compliance requirements.
Approval is granted to Mehta Educational Society, Jaipur as an exempt educational entity under section 10(23C)(vi) of the Income-tax Act, recognizing its entitlement to tax-exempt status, subject to continued conformity with the statutory criteria of the cited clause and the corresponding rule; the approval is effective from the assessment year specified by the notification.

International postal rates revised: new per weight charges and applicable surcharges and taxes now prescribed under amended rules.
The amendment to rule 50 C substitutes the entries in Schedule I and Schedule II for the columns setting charges for the first 250 grams (or part thereof) and for each additional 250 grams (or part thereof), prescribing new country wise international postage rates. It further provides that any surcharge, cess, tax or similar charge notified by the Government shall apply in addition to these tariffs and thereby governs postage assessment for outward international mail.

Electronic filing: audit reports and specified returns must be filed electronically, with exclusions for foreign-asset or tax-relief claimants.
The amendment to Rule 12 tightens eligibility for simplified return forms by excluding a resident (other than not ordinarily resident) who has foreign assets or signing authority abroad, or who has claimed relief under sections 90/90A or deduction under section 91, or who has exempt income above a specified threshold; it also mandates that reports of audit under sections 44AB, 92E or 115JB must be furnished electronically and requires certain taxpayers claiming foreign-tax relief to file returns in specified electronic manners.

Research institution approval under income-tax provisions conditions donor deduction eligibility subject to accounting, audit and reporting compliance.
The Institute of Research & Development under Gujarat Forensic Sciences University is approved under clause (ii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Income-tax Act, read with Rules 5C and 5E, from 1-4-2011 as a 'University, College or Other Institution', subject to conditions: use of sums for scientific research, research conducted by faculty or enrolled students, maintenance of separate research books, furnishing an auditor's report by the income-tax return due date, and a certified department-wise statement of donations and applications; approval may be withdrawn for specified non-compliance or cessation of genuine research.

Disclosure of taxpayer information to specified officers enables information sharing with officials enforcing foreign exchange and anti money laundering laws.
Pursuant to sub clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub section (1) of section 138 of the Income tax Act, the Central Government notifies, in the public interest, officers of the rank of Joint Director and above serving in the Directorate of Enforcement who are performing functions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, as specified officers authorised to receive disclosure of information respecting assessees.

Deduction under section 80-IA narrowed: amendment removes requirement for maintenance and operation, retaining only development.
The Government amends Notification No. 01/2013 under clause (iii) of sub-section (4) of section 80-IA by substituting in paragraph 5 the words "being developed and being maintained and operated" with "being developed" and by omitting item number 7 from the Annexure to the principal notification.

Arm's length price tolerances allow actual transaction price within notified limits to be treated as ALP for assessment purposes.
Under the second proviso to sub-section (2) of section 92C, Notification No. 30/2013 prescribes tolerable variation thresholds so that where the variation between the arm's length price determined under section 92C and the actual price of an international transaction or specified domestic transaction falls within those margins for specified taxpayer categories, the actual transaction price shall be deemed to be the arm's length price for assessment year 2013-2014.

Approval under section 10(23C)(vi) confirms tax-exempt recognition for an educational society, subject to ongoing compliance.
Approval is granted to Rajrishi Mahavidhyalaya Alwar Vikash Samiti, Alwar as qualifying under section 10(23C)(vi) of the Income-tax Act for assessment year 2012-13 and onwards, subject to continued conformity with the substantive requirements of that provision and procedural compliance under rule 2CA of the Income-tax Rules, 1962, as recorded by the Chief Commissioner of Income-tax, Jaipur.

Exchange of information expands mutual tax information sharing and compels use of information gathering measures including financial data.
The Second Protocol substitutes Article 28 to require that competent authorities exchange foreseeably relevant information for administering and enforcing taxes, with strict confidentiality: information is secret and may only be used by authorised persons for assessment, collection, enforcement, prosecution, appeals or oversight, and may appear in public court proceedings. Contracting States need not contravene domestic laws, supply unobtainable information, or disclose trade secrets or information contrary to public policy; however, requested States must use their information gathering measures to obtain information even without domestic interest, and may not refuse requests solely because information is held by banks, financial institutions, nominees or fiduciaries or concerns ownership interests.

Exchange of tax information: competent authorities must share foreseeably relevant data to support tax administration and enforcement.
Notification under Section 90 gives effect to the Agreement between India and Gibraltar for exchange of information with respect to taxes from its entry into force. The Agreement requires competent authorities to provide assistance through exchange of information foreseeably relevant to administration and enforcement of domestic tax laws, including bank and financial records and legal and beneficial ownership information, subject to limits where information is not held within territorial jurisdiction or where disproportionate difficulties or legal privileges apply.

Tax exemption under section 10(46) for Assam State AIDS Control Society covers specified grants subject to compliance conditions.
Notification under clause (46) of section 10 designates the Assam State AIDS Control Society as a notified body whose specified income comprising grants-in-aid from the Central Government and international development agencies received through the Government of India is exempt; the exemption applies for a defined retrospective and prospective period and is subject to conditions: no commercial activity, unchanged activities and income during the financial year, and prescribed return filing, with grants to be received and applied under prevailing rules.

Jurisdiction allocation under tax law permits delegation of income tax powers to subordinate officers for assigned cases.
The notification designates the Commissioner of Income tax (Central), Bhopal, to exercise statutory powers over all cases assigned under the relevant tax provision and authorises a delegation chain whereby the Commissioner may issue written orders empowering Additional or Joint Commissioners to exercise those powers, and those Additional or Joint Commissioners may further issue written orders empowering Assessing Officers subordinate to them to exercise and perform the delegated powers for the same classes of cases and incomes.

Jurisdictional amendment under Section 120 updates designation and subordinate authorities for investigation functions via government notification.
Amendment under Section 120 substitutes the Schedule I entry at serial number 13 to designate the income-tax investigating office, specify its headquarters, and identify the subordinate authorities responsible for investigation and central tax functions, thereby updating the official mapping of authority designations and jurisdictions. The change is effected by government notification and operates from the stated commencement.

Control of income-tax authorities: Commissioner rendered subordinate to Director General, changing supervisory reporting and administrative command.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes directs that the Commissioner of Income-tax (Central), Bhopal shall be subordinate to the Director General of Income-tax (Investigation), Bhopal, altering supervisory reporting and administrative command by formally designating the Commissioner as a notified subordinate officer, with the notification specifying an operative commencement date.

Tax exemption rules altered: condition removed from notification, changing eligibility criteria effective on publication.
The Central Government, under its statutory power, amends the earlier income-tax notification S.O. 2685(E) by omitting condition (v) in paragraph (g) of that notification; the omission takes effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and changes the eligibility criteria for the referenced tax exemption.

Exchange of information and assistance in collection enables cross-border tax information sharing and enforcement between India and Argentina.
Agreement establishes mutual exchange of information and assistance in collection between India and Argentina for taxes specified, obliging competent authorities to provide foreseeably relevant information, to use information-gathering measures (including bank and ownership information) and, where permitted, depositions and originals. It permits requests for tax examinations abroad subject to domestic law, sets grounds for declining requests (including public policy and legal privilege), requires confidentiality of exchanged information, allocates ordinary and extraordinary costs, mandates implementing legislation, and provides a mutual agreement procedure and termination mechanism.

Scientific Research Association approval requires separate research accounts and audited donation statements to retain tax treatment.
Approval of National Agri Foods Biotechnology Institute, Mohali as an Scientific Research Association under section 35(1)(ii) is subject to: sole objective of undertaking scientific research; conducting research activity directly; maintaining separate books of account for research receipts and expenditures; maintaining a separate certified statement of donations and amounts applied to research; and furnishing an auditor's report signed by a qualified accountant to the tax authority by the return due date.

Scientific research expenditure approval permits research donations when utilised and documented under required audit and accounting conditions.
Loyola College Society is approved as a University College or Other Institution for research expenditure deduction purposes, subject to conditions: sums paid must be utilised for scientific research; research must be carried out by faculty or enrolled students; separate books of account for research receipts and applications must be maintained and audited by a qualified accountant with the audit report submitted by the income-tax return due date; and a separate auditor-certified statement of donations and applications by department must accompany the audit report. Approval may be withdrawn for failure to comply with these requirements or if research activity ceases or is not genuine.