Union Budget 2025-26 (Full) + Finance Bill, 2025

XV. Non-applicability of Section 271AAB of the Act

The existing provisions of sub-section (1A) of section 271AAB of the Act relates to penalty in respect of searches initiated after 15.12.2016.

2. Vide Finance Act, 2024, provisions of ‘Block Assessment’ (Chapter XIV-B) were introduced for searches initiated under section 132 of the Act on or after the 1st day of September, 2024. Although section 271AAB of the Act is clear that its provisions are not applicable to proceedings conducted under section 158BC of the Act, it is proposed to remove any ambiguous interpretation of its applicability to searches conducted on or after 01.09.2024.

3. Therefore, it is proposed to amend section 271AAB of the Act to provide that its provisions shall not be applicable to the assessee in whose case search has been initiated under section 132 on or after the 1st day of September, 2024.

4. This amendment will take effect from the 1st day of September, 2024.

[Clause 75]

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Union Budget 2025-26 (Full) + Finance Bill, 2025