Legal and Administrative Framework Determining the Jurisdiction of Assessing Officers : Clause 242 of the Income Tax Bill, 2025 Vs. Section 124 of the Income-tax Act, 1961

Assessing Officer jurisdiction clarified: territorial nexus, strict time bars and internal administrative resolution govern assessment authority.

The clause anchors AO jurisdiction to the taxpayer's principal place of business, profession, or residence and empowers a specified income-tax authority to determine jurisdictional questions, with escalation to the Board where multiple authorities are involved. It mandates strict time limits for raising jurisdictional objections linked to notice service or assessment stages, requires AO referral of unresolved objections before completing assessment, and preserves AO powers over income arising within their area despite jurisdictional disputes.