Taxable perquisite calculation under annual accretion rules clarifies inclusion of employer contributions and income accrual.
The rule prescribes a formula for computing annual accretion treated as a taxable perquisite under sub-clause (viia) of clause (2) of section 17. TP equals a prorated component of current principal contribution in excess of the employer contribution threshold plus a return component derived from prior principal contributions and prior taxable perquisites multiplied by an income-to-average-balance ratio R, where R equals income accrued in the current year divided by the average of opening and closing balances. A proviso excludes any excess of prior aggregates over the opening balance from TP1 and PC1 for computation.

Time limit extensions for tax and benami proceedings extended to end of June and end of September dates.
The notification partially modifies prior relief under the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 by specifying fixed end dates for extended time limits: for penalty proceedings under Chapter XXI of the Income tax Act the period ends at the end of June with the completion date extended to the following day in June; for assessment and reassessment time limits expiring at the end of March some are extended to the end of April and others to the end of September; for Benami Act notices and orders the period ends at the end of June with extensions to the end of September.

Extension of time limits under Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act revises filing and compliance deadlines for affected provisions.
The Central Government, under section 3 of the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020, amends Notification No. 85/2020 to extend specified deadlines by substituting the dates in clause (a) from the end of February to the end of March, in clause (b) from the end of March to the end of April, and in clause (c) from the first of April to the first of May, thereby deferring the operative cut-off dates for the processes governed by those clauses.

Income exemption for Haryana State Pollution Control Board: specified non commercial receipts exempted subject to compliance and filing conditions.
Notification under section 10(46) designates Haryana State Pollution Control Board as a notified Board for tax exemption in respect of specified incomes - including Central and State grants, consent and regulatory fees, analysis and testing fees, authorization and NOC fees, cess reimbursements and appeal fees, RTI and public hearing fees, recognition fees, and interest on staff loans and fixed deposits - subject to conditions that the Board not engage in commercial activity, maintain unchanged activities and income nature, file returns as prescribed, and submit an audited report and CA certificate confirming compliance.

E-assessment procedure updated to prescribe automated allocation, notice-response steps, review mechanisms and finalisation, including penalty proceedings and electronic record transfer.
Amendments prescribe the NeAC-led e-assessment procedure: NeAC issues notice, assessee has fifteen days to respond, and cases are auto-assigned to Regional assessment units. Assessment units may request information, verification, or technical assistance; NeAC issues requisitions and transmits unit reports. Assessment units prepare draft assessment orders including penalty details; NeAC reviews drafts under a risk strategy and may finalise, issue show-cause notices, or refer drafts to review units. Revised drafts, assessee responses, review unit suggestions, objection to the Dispute Resolution Panel, and finalisation procedures are regulated, and NeAC must transfer electronic records post-assessment.

Faceless assessment procedure centralises notice, automated allocation, show cause and review steps with Dispute Resolution Panel involvement.
Amendments refine definitions and procedural mechanisms in the Faceless Assessment Scheme, substituting "registered e-mail account", adding definitions for Dispute Resolution Panel and eligible assessee, and permitting video conferencing. The National e-Assessment Centre serves notices under section 143(2), assigns cases by automated allocation to regional assessment units, coordinates requests for information, verification and technical assistance, and manages draft, review and finalisation stages including show-cause notices, review unit concurrence or variation, Dispute Resolution Panel directions under section 144C, and transfer of electronic records to the Assessing Officer.

Information sharing under the Income-tax Act enables use of income-tax data to identify beneficiaries for welfare schemes.
The Central Government designates the Chief Executive Officer, Center for e-Governance, Government of Karnataka to receive and use income-tax assessee information via the Entitlement Management System for identifying eligible beneficiaries of social security and public welfare schemes, as an administrative specification under the Income-tax Act.

Deadline extension under Vivad se Vishwas Act: compliance window moved to 28th February 2021 for the specified notification.
Amendment to Notification No. 85/2020 under the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act substitutes in clause (a) the date "31st day of January, 2021" with "28th day of February, 2021", issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and published in the Gazette.

Faceless penalty procedure centralises electronic penalty initiation, notices, reviews and orders through automated allocation and authenticated e service.
The notification prescribes a faceless penalty procedure whereby cases referred by income tax authorities or the National Faceless Assessment Centre are assigned by the National Faceless Penalty Centre to penalty units via automated allocation; penalty units prepare draft show cause notices, request further information, propose imposition or non imposition of penalty, and may be subject to review by penalty review units. The NFPC serves electronic notices, issues requisitions, forwards responses and review reports, directs penalty units to pass or drop orders, and communicates orders and intimations to the assessee and originating authorities through authenticated electronic channels.

Faceless penalty scheme: Centralised electronic penalty proceedings with automated case allocation, electronic service and e proceedings facility.
The Scheme creates a centralized electronic mechanism for penalty proceedings under the Income-tax Act by establishing a National Faceless Penalty Centre, Regional Centres, penalty units and penalty review units; mandates exclusive electronic communication, authentication and delivery of notices and orders via registered accounts, email or mobile app with real time alerts; provides for assignment of cases by an automated allocation system to penalty units which draft notices, seek information, and propose imposition or non-imposition; allows review by penalty review units and rectification by the National Faceless Penalty Centre, and prescribes video conferencing for approved personal hearings.

Special Court designation secures a dedicated forum for prosecution and trial of specified income tax offences under the Income tax Act.
The Central Government, exercising powers under sub section (1) of section 280A of the Income tax Act, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, designates an existing criminal court as the Special Court to try specified income tax offences for the State by formal notification issued through the revenue board.