Time allowed for assessment

This discussion clarifies the time allowed for an Assessing Officer to complete tax assessments. For returns filed before the due date under Section 139(1), the general processing time is one year from the end of the financial year the return was filed. For scrutiny assessments under Section 143(3), the time limit was previously 21 months but has been reduced to 12 months from the end of the relevant assessment year for AY 2019-20 onwards.