VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS UNDER THE INCOME TAX LAW

Every taxpayer has to furnish the details of his income to the Income-tax Department. These details are to be furnished by filing up his return of income. Once the return of income is filed up 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 its correctness. The process of examining the return of income by the Income- Tax department is called as “Assessment”. Assessment also includes re-assessment and best judgment assessment under section 144.

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

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

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

• Assessment under section 144, i.e., Best judgment assessment.

• Assessment under section 147, i.e., Income escaping assessment.

Assessment under section 143(1)

This is a preliminary assessment and is referred to as summary assessment without calling the assessee (i.e., taxpayer).

Scope of 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;

(iii) disallowance of loss claimed, if return of the previous year for which set-off of loss is claimed was furnished beyond the due date specified under section 139(1); or

(iv) disallowance of expenditure indicated in the audit report but not taken into account in computing the total income in the return; or

(v) disallowance of deduction claimed u/s 10AA, 80IA to 80-IE, if the return is furnished beyond the due date specified under section 139(1); or

(vi) addition of income appearing in Form 26AS or Form 16A or Form 16 which has not been included in computing the total income in the return. However, no such adjustment shall be made in relation to a return furnished for the assessment year 2018-19 and thereafter.

However, no such adjustment shall be made unless an intimation is given to the assessee of such adjustment either in writing or in electronic mode. Further, the response received from the assessee, if any, shall be considered before making any adjustment, and in case where no response is received within 30 days of the issue of such intimation, such adjustments shall be made.

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 :-

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

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

(iii) 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;

Procedure of assessment under section 143(1)

• After correcting arithmetical error or incorrect claim (if any) as discussed above, the tax and interest and fee*, if any, shall be computed on the basis of the adjusted income.

• Any sum payable by 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 the taxpayer.

• 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.

• The acknowledgement of the return of income shall be deemed to be the intimation in a case where no sum is payable by or refundable to the assessee or where no adjustment is made to the returned income.

*As per section 234F, a fee shall be levied where the return of income is not filed within the due dates prescribed under section 139(1). Fee for default in furnishing return of income shall be Rs. 5,000 if return has been furnished after the due date prescribed under section 139(1). However, it shall be Rs. 1,000 if the total income of an assessee does not exceed Rs. 5 lakh.

Time-limit

Assessment under section 143(1) can be made within a period of 9 months from the end of the financial year in which the return of income is filed.

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 is to confirm the correctness and genuineness of various claims, deductions, etc., made by the taxpayer in the return of income.

Scope of assessment under section 143(3)

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.

Procedure of assessment under section 143(3)

• 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, in support of the return.

• To carry out assessment under section 143(3), the Assessing Officer shall serve such notice in accordance with provisions of section 143(2).

• Notice under section 143(2) should be served 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 evidences, 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 materials 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.