New Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) The India-US trade ties have witnessed a string of tariff-related developments since April 2025 amid the seesawing geopolitical developments. In the latest, US President Donald Trump has signed a law that seeks to impose steep levies on Russia and its top energy buyers such as China and India. Here is a chronology of key tariff-related developments between the two countries, including major duty announcements. April 2, 2025: -------------- Declaring t... ... ...

Income-tax Rules, 2026 now permit faceless assessment, reassessment or recomputation communications to be issued by electronic communication rather than by affixing a digital signature. Recovery-of-tax procedures are revised by deleting specified provisions, omitting an exception for arrest and detention, and correcting a cross-reference. The deadline in the valuer-registration and authorised income-tax-practitioner registration rules is extended to 31 March 2027. Revised Form 169 requires asset-specific valuer applications, eligibility and disqualification disclosures, supporting qualifications and a declaration of impartiality; revised Form 171 requires practitioner eligibility, qualifications, registration and disqualification particulars. The procedural amendments to rules 160, 176 and 225 apply from 1 April 2026, while the remaining changes apply from 17 September 2026.

Risk-based selective physical boarding of vessels at Paradeep, Dhamra and Gopalpur ports will be based on advance profiling of compliance history, voyage details, ports of call, itinerary, cargo, and declarations concerning crew effects, stores and satellite devices. Port operators must provide weekly berth lists, while the Boarding Section must assess risk and report physical boardings with recorded justifications. Where physical boarding is not selected, the master and shipping agent remain responsible for accurate, complete and truthful electronic declarations and compliance with customs requirements for onboard stores. Masters must safeguard declared stores and prevent unlawful unloading or consumption, while agents must promptly report logistical, itinerary and documentation changes. Cargo discharge and sailing operations proceed upon Entry Inward and advance port clearance.

Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations, 2018 will be operationalised across ports in phases from 1 September 2026. Cochin Port is scheduled for implementation from 21 September 2026. Shipping lines, shipping agents and other stakeholders operating through Cochin Customs must comply with the framework and timely file prescribed electronic messages through the Customs Automated System to facilitate smooth cargo operations and clearance.

SHRI N.S. SAINI, HON'BLE ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI GEORGE MATHAN, HON'BLE JUDICIAL MEMBER For the Assessee : Pramod Vaidya, Adv. & Samir C. Anvekar, CA For the Revenue : K.M. Mahesh, Ld. DR (Respondent) ORDER PER GEORGE MATHAN : 1. These are appeals filed by the Assessee against the orders of CIT(A)-VI, Bangalore in ITA Nos. 265/266/ACIT, CC Panaji/CIT(A)-VI/ B'lore/2013-14 dt. 11.9.2014 for A.Ys 2006-07 & 2007-08, ITA No. 267/ACIT, CC Panaji/CIT(A)-VI/ B'lore/2013-14 dt. 11.... ... ...

Rectification for a mistake apparent from the record is limited to an error that is self-evident and admits no two views; it cannot be used to review a reasoned conclusion requiring debate, factual evaluation, or legal reconsideration. Adjudicating a deduction under section 80P(2)(d) when no appeal ground concerned that deduction constitutes an inadvertent apparent error. The prior order requires recall and fresh adjudication of the appeal.

Unsecured-loan additions and consequential interest disallowances require verification where a joint overdraft account does not clearly identify individual loan transactions. Bank statements, ledgers and supporting records require examination to establish the nature and source of sums and each creditor's identity, creditworthiness and genuineness. The account's purpose and transaction trail require clarification before a reasoned appellate determination, with a remand report where necessary.

Tax deduction at source on LTC/LFC reimbursement involving foreign travel - Failure to adjudicate limitation ground in TDS-default proceedings Failure to adjudicate limitation ground in TDS-default proceedings - Failure to decide the limitation challenge to the orders treating the deductor as an assessee in default for A.Y. 2013-14 and 2014-15 - HELD THAT: - The first appellate authority had not adjudicated the limitation ground. The Tribunal admitted the acknowledgements of TDS statements as... ... ...

Unexplained cash deposits - proof of source - Substantiation of the stated sources for cash deposits in the assessee's bank account HELD THAT: - The source attributed to opening cash in hand and family savings was unsupported by material and could not be accepted. However, the bank certificate established that the remaining deposits represented cash withdrawn through cheques by persons acting on the assessee's behalf; the explanation was therefore accepted to that extent. [Paras 7, 8] ... ... ...

Addition for unexplained cash deposits during demonetisation - Cash deposits from accumulated salary savings - Proof of source through salary records and bank statements HELD THAT: - The assessee substantiated the stated source through salary slips and bank statements showing availability of sufficient funds. The explanation could not be rejected merely on presumptions that cash could not have been retained for several years or deposited on multiple occasions during demonetisation. [Paras 5] ... ... ...

Registration of charitable trust under section 12A - Exemption of registered charitable trust u/ss 11 and 13 Registration of charitable trust under section 12A - Status of the assessee as a trust registered under section 12A - HELD THAT: -HELD THAT: - The registration certificate had been furnished during assessment, and no material established that the registration had been cancelled. The Revenue, being custodian of registration records, could not deny the registration merely because its rec... ... ...

Characterisation of income surrendered during survey, arising from unrecorded business receipts reflected in godown construction, business advances and stock discrepancies - business income versus unexplained investment HELD THAT: - The surrendered income was recorded in the books and returned as business income. The survey statement linked the godown construction, business advances and stock discrepancies to business receipts, and no material established any parallel activity or alternative ... ... ...

Condonation of delay - bona fide pursuit of alternative remedy - Addition u/s 153A - Search assessment - additions based on incriminating material Condonation of delay in filing the appeal after pursuing a rectification application - HELD THAT: - Pursuit of an alternative remedy may constitute sufficient cause only where it is prosecuted bona fide and without negligence or deliberate delay. No material established the appellant's bona fides in pursuing rectification; the dismissal of that... ... ...

Condonation of delay in filing first appeal - Unexplained cash deposits during demonetisation in brick-kiln business - Retrospective applicability of enhanced tax rate for unexplained income Condonation of delay in filing first appeal - Substantial justice over technical considerations - HELD THAT: - The assessee's illness, the material placed by the legal heir and the subsequent death of the assessee constituted sufficient cause. Where technical considerations conflict with substantial j... ... ...

Royalty - Global Brand, Communications and Technology/Knowledge Management services under India-UK DTAA - Copyrighted article - absence of transfer of copyright - Information concerning commercial experience-internal support services Whether Payments under the Shared Services Agreement for Global Brand, Global Communications and Global Technology / Knowledge Management services is to be treated as royalty under Article 13(3) of the India-UK DTAA, attracting withholding under section 195? - HE... ... ...

Bogus purchases of diamonds - burden of proof - Reassessment on tangible information of accommodation entries Unexplained expenditure on bogus diamond purchases - Burden to prove genuineness of purchases - Addition as unexplained expenditure in respect of purchases of diamonds from an alleged accommodation-entry provider - HELD THAT: - The supplier concern was found to be a paper entity issuing accommodation bills without actual diamond trading. The assessee neither rebutted the adverse mater... ... ...

Judicial discipline where identical issue is pending before Supreme Court - Stay of reassessment proceedings to prevent multiplicity of litigation Continuation of reassessment proceedings under the impugned reassessment notice while its validity was pending consideration before the Supreme Court - HELD THAT: - As the legality of the impugned reassessment notice involved an issue already pending before the Supreme Court, judicial discipline required the Court to refrain from expressing an opin... ... ...

Enforcement Directorate sought registration of an FIR concerning alleged fraudulent payments by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd to Exalogic Solutions, represented as IT consultancy fees. The request relied on evidence gathered through investigation and searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Registration remained under consideration after receipt of the Advocate General's legal opinion, with the Home Department examining the matter.

Local delivery services supplied through electronic commerce operators are added to the services specified under section 9(5) of the Madhya Pradesh Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The added category excludes supplies where the person supplying local delivery services through the operator is liable for registration under section 22(1). The amended treatment takes effect from 22 September 2025.

State tax at 6 per cent applies to intra-State supplies of fly ash bricks, aggregates and blocks; specified bricks; building bricks; and earthen or roofing tiles within designated Customs Tariff classifications. Classification follows the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and associated interpretative rules, notes and explanatory notes. Undefined expressions retain their GST enactment meanings. The rate applies from 22 September 2025.