Dear Professionals and Students,
Income tax assessment is the process of verification of the information a taxpayer has provided in the returns submitted by a taxpayer to the income tax department. The Income Tax department assesses after an assessee FFilinginges an income tax return. The assessment’s purpose is for the Income Tax department to verify the return filed for correctness concerning the amount of taxable income declared and tax paid. There are various types of income tax assessment.
The term “assessment” in the context of income tax refers to the process where the Income-tax Department evaluates a taxpayer’s return of income. This evaluation is done to verify the accuracy and correctness of the information provided by the taxpayer in their Income tax return. The assessment process involves various methods, including:
1.Regular assessments examine the details submitted in the taxpayer’s return for accuracy.
2.Re-assessment might occur in specific situations as specified by the tax laws.
3.Best judgment assessment under Section 144, where the evaluation is based on the best judgment of the Assessing Officer, is typically used when the taxpayer fails to comply with specific requirements of the tax laws.
Notably, the Finance Act of 2018 introduced Section 143(3A), which implemented an e-assessment scheme for regular assessments carried out under Section 143(3). Further expanding this, the Finance Act 2020 included the best judgment assessments under Section 144 within the scope of e-assessment. By leveraging digital platforms, E-assessment aims to make the entire process more efficient and less cumbersome.
Notice under Section 143(2)
When the Income Tax Department selects your Income Tax Return for a detailed check, they issue a Notice under Section 143(2). This is a step towards what is known as a scrutiny assessment or thorough assessment under Section 143(3).
Under Section 143(3), the scrutiny assessment thoroughly reviews your Income Tax Return. The main goal is to verify the accuracy and truthfulness of various claims and deductions you’ve made in your return. Essentially, this process ensures that the income you’ve reported and the tax you’ve paid are correct.
The Key Objectives of Scrutiny Assessment:
The scrutiny primarily aims to check three things:
- That you haven’t reported less income than you have.
- That you haven’t claimed excessive losses.
- That you haven’t paid less tax than you should have.
So, in summary, to conduct a scrutiny assessment under Section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, the Income Tax Department issues a notice under Section 143(2). This notice is typically given within three months from the end of the financial year.
What Exactly is a Scrutiny Assessment?
A scrutiny assessment, as defined under section 143(3), involves a detailed examination of the income tax return. During this assessment, the tax authorities meticulously check the authenticity and accuracy of various claims, deductions, and other details you have provided in your return.
Scope of Assessment under Section 143(1):
The assessment under Section 143(1) is essentially a preliminary check of the income tax return filed by the taxpayer. At this stage, the focus is not on detailed return scrutiny. Instead, it involves a basic verification process where certain adjustments may be made to the income or loss reported by the taxpayer. These adjustments include:
Correction of Arithmetical Errors: Any mathematical mistakes present in the return are rectified.
Identification of Incorrect Claims: If any claims in the return are incorrect, they are adjusted based on the information available in the return. This includes claims inconsistent with other entries in the return, claims lacking required substantiation, or deductions exceeding statutory limits.
Disallowance of Loss Claimed: If the return for the previous year, for which a loss set-off is claimed, was submitted after the due date under Section 139(1), the loss claim can be disallowed.
Disallowance of Expenditure Not Accounted in the Total Income: If certain expenditures are mentioned in the audit report but not considered in the total income calculation in the return, these can be disallowed.
Disallowance of Certain Deductions: Deductions claimed under sections 10AA, 80-IA, 80-IB, 80-IC, 80-ID, or 80-IE can be disallowed if the return is filed beyond the due date specified under Section 139(1).
Addition of Income Not Included in the Return: Any income that appears in Form 26AS, Form 16A, or Form 16, which has not been included in the total income stated in the return, may be added.
When Can a Scrutiny Assessment under Section 143(3) be Initiated?
Scrutiny Assessment assessment can be started in the following situations:
When you file an income tax return as per Section 139 or respond to a notice under Section 142.
When the Assessing Officer or Income Tax Authority feels it’s necessary to audit your return to ensure the reported income and paid taxes are accurate.
Criteria for Selecting Cases for Scrutiny Assessment
A case is typically selected for scrutiny assessment by the Income Tax Department under certain circumstances:
- Non-filing of Tax Return: If the assessee does not file the tax return, it can trigger a scrutiny assessment. This is particularly relevant when the assessee has a taxable income but fails to file the required returns.
- Incomplete or Erroneous Tax Return: Cases where the tax return is filed but lacks necessary information or contains errors may also be scrutinised. This includes inaccuracies in income reporting or tax calculations.
Common Reasons for Scrutiny Selection
Reason 1: Non-filing of Income Tax Return (ITR)
Individuals with gross income above the exempted limit (e.g., Rs 2,50,000 for individuals below 60 years) must file an ITR.
Residents who own foreign assets or have authority over foreign bank accounts must file an ITR regardless of income level.
Filing is necessary even if the employer has deducted TDS.
Reason 2: Errors Related to TDS
Discrepancies between TDS amounts reported in the ITR and those recorded on the Traces website can trigger scrutiny.
Reason 3: Non-disclosure of Other Incomes
All incomes, including interest from savings accounts and fixed and recurring deposits, must be reported.
Issues arise when TDS is deducted at a lower rate than the assessee’s tax slab.
Reason 4: Unnatural or High-Value Transactions
Transactions significantly higher than the income declared can lead to scrutiny. For example, extensive deposits in bank accounts that don’t correspond with the reported income.
Such transactions are often reported to the tax department by banks and other financial institutions.
Reason 5: Defects in Income Tax Return
Errors in filing, such as using the wrong ITR form or omitting mandatory information, can result in a notice.
The tax department may direct the filing of a revised return under Section 139(9) to correct any inaccuracies.
I hope this article will helps you to understand and to handle the assessment.
Prakash Kulthe ,Tax Professional & Expert (In Practice more than 10 years)
CAclubindia
