Budget 2021-22 + FINANCE Bill, 2021

Provision for Faceless Proceedings before the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in a jurisdiction less manner

In order to impart greater efficiency, transparency and accountability to the assessment process, appeal process and penalty process under the Act a new faceless assessment scheme, faceless appeal scheme and faceless penalty scheme have already been introduced. Further, vide Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 the Central Government has been empowered to notify similar schemes in respect of many other processes under the Act that require a physical interface with the taxpayers.

In order to ensure that the reforms initiated by the Department to reduce human interface from the system reaches the next level, it is imperative that a faceless scheme be launched for ITAT proceedings on the same line as faceless appeal scheme. This will not only reduce cost of compliance for taxpayers, increase transparency in disposal of appeals but will also help in achieving even work distribution in different benches resulting in best utilisation of resources.

Therefore, it is proposed to insert new sub-sections in the section 255 of the Act so as to provide that the Central Government may notify a scheme for the purposes of disposal of appeal by the ITAT so as to impart greater efficiency, transparency and accountability by,-

(a) eliminating the interface between the ITAT and parties to the appeal in the course of proceedings to the extent technologically feasible;

(b) optimising utilisation of the resources through economies of scale and functional specialisation;

(c) introducing an appellate system with dynamic jurisdiction. It is also proposed to empower the Central Government, for the purpose of giving effect to the scheme made under the proposed sub-section, for issuing notification in the Official Gazette, to direct that any of the provisions of this Act shall not apply or shall apply with such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be specified in the notification. Such directions are to be issued on or before 31st March, 2023. It is proposed that every notification issued shall, as soon as may be after the notification is issued, be laid before each House of Parliament.

This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2021.

[Clause 78]

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Budget 2021-22 + FINANCE Bill, 2021