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Limitation Period is Sacrosanct: Section 148 Notice for AY 2013-14 Issued on 31.07.2022 Held Invalid as Issued Beyond ‘Surviving Time’ Under Reassessment Scheme   ISSUE Whether a notice under Section 148 dated 31.07.2022, issued for Assessment Year 2013-14 pursuant to the procedure under Section 148A (following the Supreme Court’s Ashish Agarwal directions), is valid, or… Read More »

Reassessment Invalid Where AO Relies Solely on Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) and Ignores Assessee’s Detailed Reply and Evidence Regarding Related Party Transactions   ISSUE Whether the Assessing Officer (AO) can validly pass an order under Section 148A and issue a reopening notice under Section 148 solely based on inputs from a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR)… Read More »

Limitation Period is Sacrosanct: High Court Refuses to Condone Delay Beyond Statutory Maximum Citing Supreme Court Precedent   ISSUE Whether the High Court, in exercise of its writ jurisdiction, can direct the Appellate Authority to accept an appeal filed beyond the maximum condonable period prescribed under Section 107 of the GST Act, merely on the… Read More »

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Health Security se National Security (HSNS) Cess Act, 2026 and HSNS Cess Rules, 2026 Posted On: 02 JAN 2026 5:03PM by PIB Delhi Q1. Who is required to get registered under the HSNS Cess Rules? Ans. Every taxable person as per section 3 of the Health Security se National Security Cess Act, 2025… Read More »

Government Notifies Health Security se National Security Cess Rules, 2026 The Central Government has established a comprehensive framework for the implementation of the Health Security se National Security Cess Act, 2025. The key details of the newly notified rules are as follows: Notification & Effective Date: Notified By: Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue via… Read More »

Madras HC: No GST on Corporate Guarantees Without Consideration if Recipient is Eligible for Full ITC Amman Try Trading Company Private Limited v. State Tax Officer – V (Roving Squad)  Madras High Court October 06, 2025 Summary of the Ruling: The Madras High Court quashed a GST demand levied on a corporate guarantee provided without… Read More »

Tobacco Excise Overhaul: Capacity-Based Levy and Revised Rates Effective Feb 2026 1. Capacity-Based Levy Reintroduced Section 3A Notification: The government has notified chewing tobacco, Jarda scented tobacco, and Gutkha under Section 3A of the Central Excise Act, 1944. This mandates that excise duty for these products will be levied based on the production capacity of… Read More »

Zero Compensation Cess: Major Shift for Pan Masala & Tobacco Government Notification Issued The Central Government, through Notification No. 03/2025-Compensation Cess (Rate) dated December 31, 2025, has officially notified the reduction of the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Cess to “Nil” for specified pan masala and tobacco products. Effective Date This new “Nil”… Read More »

Government Notifies CGST (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2025: Introduction of Retail Sale Price-Based Valuation 1. Introduction of Rule 31D for Valuation New Valuation Method: A new Rule 31D has been inserted into the CGST Rules, 2017. Basis of Valuation: For notified goods, the value of supply shall be deemed to be the Retail Sale Price (RSP)… Read More »

Tobacco GST Overhaul: Rates Rationalised from Feb 2026 New GST Rate for Biris The notification includes Biris falling under tariff headings 2403 19 21 and 2403 19 29 in Schedule II, attracting a GST rate of 9%. Major Additions to the 20% Tax Slab Several tobacco and related products have been moved to Schedule III,… Read More »