Assessment under Income Tax Act 1961

By | September 19, 2015
(Last Updated On: September 19, 2015)

Assessment under Income Tax Act 1961​

assessment of income tax

assessment

  • What is the meaning of assessment?​

    Every taxpayer has to furnish the details of his income to the Income-tax Department. These details are to be furnished by filing his return of income. Once the return of income is filed by the taxpayer, the next step is the processing of the return of income by the Income-tax Department. The Income-tax Department examines the return of income for confirming its correctness. The process of examining the return of income by the Income-tax Department is called “Assessment”. Assessment also includes re-assessment or best judgment assessment under section 144.​

  • ​What are the major assessments under the Income-tax Law?​

    Under the Income-tax Law, there are four major assessments as given below:

    i)    section 143(1) ,i.e. , Summary assessment without calling the assessee

               i.e . taxpayer.         ii) Assessment under section 144, i.e., Best judgment assessment

    iii)Assessment under section 147​, i.e., Income escaping assessment.​

    iv) Assessment under section 143(3), i.e., Scrutiny assessment.

  • What is assessment under section 143(1)?​

    Assessment under section 143(1)​ is like preliminary checking of the return of income. At this stage, no detailed scrutiny of the return of income is carried out. At this stage, the total income or loss is computed after making the following adjustments (if any), namely:-

    (i) any arithmetical error in the return; or

    (ii) an incorrect claim, if such incorrect claim is apparent from any information in the return (*);

    (*) For the above purpose, “an incorrect claim apparent from any information in the return” means a claim, on the basis of an entry, in the return:-

    (a) of an item, which is inconsistent with another entry of the same or some other item in such return;

    (b) in respect of which the information required to be furnished under the Act to substantiate such entry has not been furnished; or

    (c) in respect of a deduction, where such deduction exceeds specified statutory limit which may have been expressed as monetary amount or percentage or ratio or fraction.​

  • ​What is the procedure adopted for making the assessment under section 143(1)?​

    Assessment under section 143(1) is like preliminary checking of the return of income. At this stage, the total income or loss is computed after making the preliminary adjustments (as discussed in previous FAQ). The other procedures in this regard are as follows:

    • After correcting arithmetical error or incorrect claim (if any) as discussed in previous FAQ, the tax and interest, if any, shall be computed on the basis of the adjusted income.
    • Any sum payable by the taxpayer or refund due to the taxpayer shall be intimated to him.
    • An intimation shall be prepared or generated and sent to the taxpayer specifying the sum determined to be payable by, or the amount of refund due to him.
    • An intimation shall also be sent to the taxpayer, in a case, where the loss declared in the return of income by the taxpayer is adjusted but no tax or interest is payable by, or no refund is due to him.
    • No intimation will be sent to the taxpayer in a case where no sum is payable or refundable or no adjustment is made to the returned income. In such a case, the acknowledgement of the return of income shall be deemed to be the intimation.
    • The processing of a return under section 143(1) shall not be necessary, where a notice has been issued to the taxpayer undersection 143(2)​, i.e., a notice of scrutiny assessment is issued to the taxpayer.​
  • ​What is the time limit for making the assessment under section 143(1)?​

    ​Assessment under section 143(1)​ can be made within a period of one year from the end of the financial year in which the return of income is filed.

  • ​What is assessment under section 143(3)?​​

    This is a detailed assessment and is referred to as scrutiny assessment. At this stage, a detailed scrutiny of the return of income will be carried out. The scrutiny is carried out to confirm the correctness and genuineness of various claims, deductions, etc., made by the taxpayer in the return of income.

  • ​What is the scope of assessment under section 143(3) i.e. scrutiny assessment?​​

    The objective of scrutiny assessment is to confirm that the taxpayer has not understated

    the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner.

    To confirm the above, the Assessing Officer carries out a detailed scrutiny of the return of income and will satisfy himself regarding various claims, deductions, etc., made by the taxpayer in the return of income.

  • What is the procedure adopted for making the assessment under section 143(3) i.e. scrutiny assessment?​

    In case of Assessment under section 143(3), a scrutiny is carried out to confirm the correctness and genuineness of various claims, deductions, etc., made by the taxpayer in the return of income. The other procedures in this regard are as follows:

    • If the Assessing Officer considers it necessary or expedient to ensure that the taxpayer has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner, then he will serve on the taxpayer a notice requiring him to attend his office or to produce or cause to be produced any evidence on which the taxpayer may rely on in support of the return.
    • The provisions of notice are governed by section 143(2). In other words, to carry out assessment under section 143(3), the Assessing Officer should serve a notice under section 143(2)​.
    • Notice under section 143(2)​ shall be served on the taxpayer within a period of six months from the end of the financial year in which the return is filed.
    • The taxpayer or his representative (as the case may be) will appear before the Assessing Officer and will place his arguments, supporting, etc., on various matters/issues as required by the Assessing Officer.
    • After hearing/verifying such evidence and taking into account such particulars as the taxpayer may produce and such other evidence as the Assessing Officer may require on specified points and after taking into account all relevant material which he has gathered, the Assessing Officer shall, by an order in writing, make an assessment of the total income or loss of the taxpayer and determine the sum payable by him or refund of any amount due to him on the basis of such assessment.​
  • ​What is the time limit for making the assessment under section 143(3) i.e. scrutiny assessment?​

    As per section 153​​, assessment under section 143(3) shall be made within a period of two years from the end of the relevant assessment year. E.g. Assessment under section 143(3) for the financial year 2013-14 i.e. assessment year 2014-15 shall be completed till 31-3-2017. ​

  • ​What is assessment under section 144?​​

    Assessment under section 144 (called best judgment assessment) is an assessment carried out as per the best judgment of the Assessing Officer. Best judgment assessment is resorted due to certain failures (specified under section 144​) on the part of the taxpayer (discussed in next FAQ).

  • ​Under what circumstances the Assessing Officer will proceed for making assessment under section 144 i.e. best judgment assessment?​​

    As per section 144, the Assessing Officer is under an obligation to make an assessment to the best of his judgment in the following cases:

    • If the taxpayer fails to file the return of income as required within the due date prescribed under section 139(1) or a belated return under section 139(4) or a revised return under section 139(5).
    • If the taxpayer fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under section 142(1).

      Note: section 142(1) deals with the general provisions relating to an inquiry before assessment. Under section 142(1), the Assessing Officer can issue notice asking the taxpayer to file the return of income if he has not filed the return of income or to produce or cause to be produced such accounts or documents as he may require and to furnish in writing and verified in the prescribed manner information in such form and on such points or matters (including a statement of all assets and liabilities of the taxpayer, whether included in the accounts or not) as he may require.

    • If the taxpayer fails to comply with the directions issued under section 142(2A).

      Note: Section 142(2A) deals with special audit. As per section 142(2A), if the conditions justifying special audit as given in section 142(2A) are satisfied, then the Assessing Officer will direct the taxpayer to get his accounts audited from a chartered accountant nominated by the principal chief commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner and to furnish a report of such audit in the prescribed form.

    • If after filing the return of income, the taxpayer fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under section 142(2A), i.e., notice of scrutiny assessment.

      From the above criteria, it can be observed that best judgment assessment is resorted in cases where the return of income is not filed by the taxpayer or there is no co-operation by the taxpayer on various matters.​

  • ​What is the procedure adopted for making the assessment under section 144 i.e. best judgment assessment?​

    Assessment under section 144 (called best judgment assessment) is an assessment carried out as per the best judgment of the Assessing Officer. The other procedures in this regard are as follows:

    • If the circumstances justifying best judgment assessment (discussed in previous FAQ) are satisfied, then the Assessing Officer will serve a notice on the taxpayer to show cause why the assessment should not be completed to the best of his judgment.
    • No notice as given above is required in a case where a notice under section 142(1)​ has been issued prior to the making of an assessment under section 144.
    • If the Assessing Officer is not satisfied by the arguments of the taxpayer and he has reason to believe that the case demands a best judgment, then he will proceed to carry out the assessment as per best of his knowledge.
    • If the criteria of the best judgment assessment are satisfied, then after taking into account all relevant material which the Assessing Officer has gathered, and after giving the taxpayer an opportunity of being heard, the Assessing Officer shall make the assessment of the total income or loss to the best of his judgment and determine the sum payable by the taxpayer on the basis of such assessment.​
  • What is the time limit for making the assessment under section 144 i.e. best judgment assessment ?​

    ​As per section 153, assessment under section 144 shall be made within a period of two years from the end of the relevant assessment year. E.g. Assessment under section 144​ for the financial year 2013-14 i.e. assessment year 2014-15 shall be completed till 31-3-2017.​

  • What is assessment under section 147? ​

    ​This is an income escaping assessment. This assessment is carried out if the Assessing Officer observes that any income has escaped assessment.

  • ​What are the circumstances under which assessment under section 147 i.e. income escaping assessment can be carried out?​

    In the following cases, it will be deemed that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment:

      • Where no return of income has been furnished by the taxpayer, although his total income or the total income of any other person in respect of which he is assessable during the year exceeded the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax.
      • Where a return of income has been furnished by the taxpayer but no assessment has been made and it is noticed by the Assessing Officer that the taxpayer has understated the income or has claimed excessive loss, deduction, allowance or relief in the return.
      • Where the taxpayer has failed to furnish a report in respect of any international transaction which he was required to file under section 92E​.
      • Where an assessment has been made, but:

        (i) income chargeable to tax has been under assessed; or

        (ii) income has been assessed at low rate; or

        (iii) income has been made the subject of excessive relief; or

        (iv) excessive loss or depreciation allowance or any other allowance has been computed;

    • Where a person is found to have any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India.​
  • What is the procedure adopted for making the assessment under section 147 i.e. income escaping assessment?​

    The procedures adopted for making the assessment under section 147 are as follows:

    • For making an assessment under section 147, the Assessing Officer has to issue notice under section 148 to the taxpayer and has to give him an opportunity of being heard. The time-limit for issuance of notice under section 148​ is discussed in later FAQ.
    • If the Assessing Officer has reason to believe that any income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for any assessment year, then he may assess or reassess such income and also any other income chargeable to tax which has escaped assessment and which comes to his notice subsequently in the course of the proceedings under section 147. He is also empowered to re-compute the loss or the depreciation allowance or any other allowance, as the case may be, for the assessment year concerned.

    Items which are the subject matters of any appeal, reference or revision cannot be covered by the Assessing Officer under section 147.​

  • ​What is the time limit for making the assessment under section 147 i.e. income escaping assessment?​

    As per section 153, assessment under section 147 shall be made within a period of one year from the end of the financial year in which notice under section 148​ was served on the taxpayer. Notice under section 148 can be issued within a period of 4 (*) years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

    (*) If the escaped income is Rs. 1,00,000 or more and certain other conditions are satisfied, then notice can be issued upto 6 years from the end of the relevant assessment year. In case, the escaped income relates to any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India, notice can be issued upto 16 years from the end of the relevant assessment year.​

  • ​What recourse is available to me if I am not satisfied with the order passed by my Assessing Officer?
     If you are not satisfied with the order passed by your Assessing Officer then you can file an appeal to the higher authority. The first appellate authority is the Commissioner (Appeals). Subsequently, the matter can be taken to the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, then to the High Court and the Supreme Court.

    Alternatively, instead of going for the appeal mechanism, you can make an application of revision to the Commissioner of Income-tax.​

    Reference  : http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in

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