The Central Board of Direct Taxes on 13th September 2021 has published the Income-tax (29th Amendment) Rules, 2021 to further amend the Income-tax Rules, 1962. The Amendment notifies a new provision prescribing income- tax authority under second proviso to clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 142.
As per the new rule 12F, the prescribed income-tax authority under second proviso to clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 142 shall be an income-tax authority not below the rank of Income-tax Officer who has been authorised by the Central Board of Direct Taxes to act as such authority for the purposes of that clause.”
Section 142 of the Act provides for the conduct of inquiry before assessment. Clause (i) of sub section (1) section 142 gives the Assessing Officer the authority to issue notice to an assessee, who has not submitted a return of income, asking for submission of return. This is necessary to bring into the fold of taxation non-filers or stop filers who have transactions resulting in income. However, this power can be currently invoked only by the Assessing Officer.
