Provisional attachment protects revenue during assessments, requiring competent authority approval and revocation on provision of bank guarantees.
Clause 500 permits an Assessing Officer, with prior Competent Authority approval and by written order, to provisionally attach property during assessment, reassessment of escaped income or specified penalty proceedings; attachment follows the statutory attachment procedure and valuation by a Valuation Officer. Attachment is revocable on furnishing a scheduled bank guarantee generally equal to fair market value (or a lower guarantee if accepted); guarantees may be invoked on default. Temporal limits apply (initial six months with limited extensions) and proceeds are adjusted against existing demands with balances deposited in designated accounts.