The Central Board of Direct Taxes on 1st November 2021 has published the e-Settlement Scheme, 2021 which shall be applicable to pending applications in respect of which the applicant has not exercised the option under sub-section (1) of section 245M of the Act and which has been allotted or transferred by Central Board of Direct Taxes to an Interim Board.
Section 245M(1) notifies, that the assessee who had filed such application may, at his option, withdraw such application within a period of three months from the date of commencement of the Finance Act, 2021 and intimate the Assessing Officer, in the prescribed manner, about such withdrawal.
The Interim Board shall conduct e-settlement of pending applications allocated or transferred to it and it shall have such income-tax authority, ministerial staff, executive or consultant to assist the members of the Interim Board, as considered necessary by Central Board of Direct Taxes.
Under this scheme all communications between the Interim Board and the applicant, or his authorised representative, shall be exchanged by electronic mode;
Provided that any application received in a mode other than electronic mode by the Interim Board may be forwarded to the Principal Commissioner or the Commissioner electronically, to the extent technologically feasible.
Every notice or order or any other electronic communication under this Scheme from the Interim Board shall be delivered to the addressee, being the applicant by sending an e-mail to the registered email address of the applicant or his authorised representative.
The applicant shall not be required to appear either personally or through an authorized representative in connection with any proceedings under this Scheme before the Interim Board or before any Income-tax Authority or ministerial staff posted with the Interim Board.