Union Budget 2024-25 (Full) + FINANCE (No.2) Bill, 2024

The existing provisions of section 153 of the Act specify the various time limits for completion of assessment, reassessment and recomputation under various provisions of the Act. In this regard, representation has been received regarding procedural difficulties in implementation of the provisions of the said section. Considering the same, following changes have been proposed for amendment in section 153 of the Act:-

(i) Sub-section (1) of said section provides, inter-alia, that assessment under section 143 or section 144 shall be completed within twelve months from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable. In this regard, it is proposed to insert a new sub-section (1B) so that order of assessment of cases where return of income is furnished in consequence of an order under section 119(2)(b) may be completed within twelve months from the end of the financial year in which such return is furnished.

(ii) Sub-section (3) of the said section provides the time-limit for passing the fresh assessment order in pursuance of an order under section 254 or section 263 or section 264 setting aside or cancelling an assessment. The said subsection provides that such fresh assessment order shall be passed at any time before the expiry of twelve months from the end of the financial year in which the order under section 250 or section 254 is received by the Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner or, as the case may be, the order under section 263 or section 264 is passed by the Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, as the case may be. In this regard, it is proposed to insert the reference of section 250 in this sub-section in order to provide the time-limit for disposal of cases which are proposed to be set aside by the Commissioner (Appeals).

(iii) Further, sub-section (8) of the said section provides that order of assessment or reassessment relating to any assessment year, which stands revived under sub-section (2) of section 153A, shall be made within a period of one year from the end of the month of such revival or within the period specified in the said section or sub-section (1) of section 153B, whichever is later. In this regard, it is proposed to amend sub-section (8) of the said section to provide the timeline for passing of order in the case of revived assessment or reassessment proceedings as a consequence of annulment of block assessments under Chapter XIV-B of the Act.

(iv) Clause (xii) of Explanation 1 of the said section provides, that the period (not exceeding one hundred and eighty days) commencing from date of initiation of search and ending on the date on which the books of account/documents/seized materials are handed over to the Assessing Officer is excluded while computing the period of limitation. In this regard, it is proposed to amend the provision of Explanation 1(xii) of the said section by inserting a 6th proviso so as to provide that the date of limitation in such cases falls at the end of the month, after taking into account the exclusion provided in the Explanation.

2. Further, the existing provisions of the section 139 prescribe, inter-alia, that every person, being a company or a firm, or being a person other than a company or a firm whose total income exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax, shall, furnish a return of his income. In this regard, consequential amendment is proposed in the said section to provide that where any return of income is furnished in pursuance of an order under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 119, the provisions of this section 139 shall apply.

3. These amendments will take effect from the 1st day of October, 2024.

[Clause 41 & 48]

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Full Text:

Union Budget 2024-25 (Full) + FINANCE (No.2) Bill, 2024

Assessment time-limits revised: new deadlines for returns under administrative orders and revived block assessments procedures Amendments revise time-limits: assessments on returns filed following administrative directions may be completed within twelve months from the end of the financial year of filing; fresh assessments after appellate or supervisory orders will include cases set aside by the Commissioner (Appeals); timelines are specified for revived proceedings following annulment of block assessments; and search-period exclusions are adjusted so the limitation date falls at the end of the month after exclusion. A consequential provision applies return-obligations to returns furnished under administrative orders. Effective from 1 October 2024.