E-assessment Scheme, 2019 | CBDT Notification

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In its bid to curb corruption by making tax filing and their review faceless, the government has come out with e-assessment scheme, 2019 making it mandatory for all communication between tax department and taxpayers to be done online.

Now, tax notices will be issued by a centralised e-assessment centre requiring taxpayers to reply only through digital mode. Through mobile app, real-time alerts would be sent to assessees updating about progress in the case.

The tax department has, however, reserved the right to allocate an assessment case to a tax officer where complexity is involved.

Moving to digital from the decades-old system of manual scrutiny, the tax department would use data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other latest tools to ascertain misreporting or evasion. The move is in line with the government’s promise to eliminate human interface in tax matters.

Finance Act 2018 had introduced three new sub Sections – 3A to 3C to Section 143 with a view to notify a new e-assessment scheme, where the assessment proceedings will be conducted in electronic mode, which will almost eliminate person-to-person contact to the extent it is technologically feasible.

Rakesh Nangia, Managing Partner, Nangia Advisors (Andersen Global) said that the idea of e-assessments, is in principle, an outstanding one but the administrative systems and procedures need to be developed to ensure that it does not result in uncalled-for injustice to the taxpayers.

“The use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, video conferencing, telecommunication application software, mobile app etc. in the e-assessment process are few measures which emerged economies have already adopted long back. However, the digital capabilities may pose significant implementation challenges in India,” Nangia said.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy-making body of the Income Tax Department had been running e-assessment as a pilot project in few major cities before expanding it pan-India. The initiative was launched to reduce visits by taxpayers to income tax offices and their interface with the taxmen, thereby bringing anonymity in proceedings.

Laying down the assessment procedure, the scheme says that National e-Assessment Centre shall serve a notice on the assessee under sub-section (2) of section 143, specifying the issues for selection of his case for assessment. The assessee would be given 15 days time from the date of receipt of the notice to file their response.

“The National e-assessment Centre shall assign the case selected for the purposes of e-assessment under this scheme to a specific assessment unit in any one regional e-assessment centre through an automated allocation system,” the scheme said.

All communications between the National e-assessment Centre and the assessee will be exchanged exclusively by electronic mode. The internal communication within the department will also be online.

DOWNLOAD: Download CBDT Notification E-assessment Scheme, 2019

MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 12th September, 2019
(INCOME-TAX)
S.O. 3264(E).–In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3A) of section 143 of the Income-tax Act,
1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby makes the following Scheme, namely:__
1. Short title and commencement.–– (1) This Scheme may be called the E-assessment Scheme, 2019.
(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions .–– (1) In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires, ––
(i) “Act” means the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961);
(ii) “addressee” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of
the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(iii) “assessment” means assessment of total income or loss of the assessee under sub-section (3) of section
143 of the Act;
(iv) “authorised representative” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in sub-section (2) of section
288 of the Act;
(v) “automated allocation system” means an algorithm for randomised allocation of cases, by using suitable
technological tools, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, with a view to optimise the use
of resources;
10 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
(vi) “automated examination tool” means an algorithm for standardised examination of draft orders, by using
suitable technological tools, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, with a view to reduce
the scope of discretion;
(vii) “Board” means Central Board of Direct Taxes constituted under the Central Board of Revenues Act,
1963 (54 of 1963);
(viii) “computer resource” shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in clause (k) of sub-section (1) of
section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(ix) “computer system” shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in clause (l) of sub-section (1) of
section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(x) “computer resource of assessee” shall include assessee’s registered account in designated portal of the
Income-tax Department, the Mobile App linked to the registered mobile number of the assessee, or the
email account of the assessee with his email service provider;
(xi) “digital signature” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (p) of sub-section (1) of
section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(xii) “designated portal” means the web portal designated as such by the Principal Chief Commissioner or
Principal Director General, in charge of the National e-assessment Centre;
(xiii) “e-assessment” means the assessment proceedings conducted electronically in ‘e-Proceeding’ facility
through assessee’s registered account in designated portal;
(xiv) “electronic record” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (t) of sub-section (1) of section
2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(xv) “electronic signature” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (ta) of sub-section (1) of
section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(xvi) “email” or “electronic mail” and “electronic mail message” means a message or information created or
transmitted or received on a computer, computer system, computer resource or communication device
including attachments in text, image, audio, video and any other electronic record, which may be
transmitted with the message.;
(xvii) “hash function” and “hash result” shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Explanation to
sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(xviii) “Mobile app” shall mean the application software of the Income-tax Department developed for mobile
devices which is downloaded and installed on the registered mobile number of the assessee;
(xix) “originator” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (za) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of
the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(xx) “real time alert” means any communication sent to the assessee, by way of Short Messaging Service on
his registered mobile number, or by way of update on his Mobile App, or by way of an email at his
registered email address, so as to alert him regarding delivery of an electronic communication;
(xxi) “registered account” of the assessee means the electronic filing account registered by the assessee in
designated portal;
(xxii) “registered e-mail address” means the e-mail address at which an electronic communication may be
delivered or transmitted to the addressee, including-
(a) the email address available in the electronic filing account of the addressee registered in
designated portal; or
(b) the e-mail address available in the last income-tax return furnished by the addressee; or
(c) the e-mail address available in the Permanent Account Number database relating to the
addressee; or
(d) in the case of addressee being an individual who possesses the Aadhaar number, the e-mail
address of addressee available in the database of Unique Identification Authority of India ;or
(e) in the case of addressee being a company, the e-mail address of the company as available on the
official website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs; or
(f) any e-mail address made available by the addressee to the income-tax authority or any person
authorised by such authority.
(xxiii) “registered mobile number” of the assessee means the mobile number of the assessee, or his authorised
representative, appearing in the user profile of the electronic filing account registered by the assessee in
designated portal;
(xxiv) “video telephony” means the technological solutions for the reception and transmission of audio-video
signals by users at different locations, for communication between people in real-time.
(2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act shall have the meaning respectively
assigned to them in the Act.
3. Scope of the Scheme.–– The assessment under this Scheme shall be made in respect of such territorial area, or persons
or class of persons, or incomes or class of incomes, or cases or class of cases, as may be specified by the Board.
4. E-assessment Centres.– (1) For the purposes of this Scheme, the Board may set up-
(i) a National e-assessment Centre to facilitate the conduct of e-assessment proceedings in a centralised manner,
which shall be vested with the jurisdiction to make assessment in accordance with the provisions of this
Scheme;
(ii) Regional e-assessment Centres as it may deem necessary to facilitate the conduct of e-assessment
proceedings in the cadre controlling region of a Principal Chief Commissioner, which shall be vested with the
jurisdiction to make assessment in accordance with the provisions of this Scheme;
(iii) assessment units, as it may deem necessary to facilitate the conduct of e-assessment, to perform the function
of making assessment, which includes identification of points or issues material for the determination of any
liability (including refund) under the Act, seeking information or clarification on points or issues so identified,
analysis of the material furnished by the assessee or any other person, and such other functions as may be
required for the purposes of making assessment;
(iv) verification units, as it may deem necessary to facilitate the conduct of e-assessment, to perform the function
of verification, which includes enquiry, cross verification, examination of books of accounts, examination of
witnesses and recording of statements, and such other functions as may be required for the purposes of
verification.
(v) technical units, as it may deem necessary to facilitate the conduct of e-assessment, to perform the function of
providing technical assistance which includes any assistance or advice on legal, accounting, forensic,
information technology, valuation, transfer pricing, data analytics, management or any other technical matter
which may be required in a particular case or a class of cases, under this Scheme; and
(vi) review units, as it may deem necessary to facilitate the conduct of e-assessment, to perform the function of
review of the draft assessment order, which includes checking whether the relevant and material evidence has
been brought on record, whether the relevant points of fact and law have been duly incorporated in the draft
order, whether the issues on which addition or disallowance should be made have been discussed in the draft
order, whether the applicable judicial decisions have been considered and dealt with in the draft order,
checking for arithmetical correctness of modifications proposed, if any, and such other functions as may be
required for the purposes of review,
and specify their respective jurisdiction.
(2) All communication among the assessment unit, review unit, verification unit or technical unit or with the assesse or
any other person with respect to the information or documents or evidence or any other details, as may be necessary for
the purposes of making an assessment under this Scheme shall be through the National e-assessment Centre.
(3) The units referred to in sub-paragraphs (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of paragraph (1) shall have the following authorities,
namely:–
(a) Additional Commissioner or Additional Director or Joint Commissioner or Joint Director, as the case may
be;
(b) Deputy Commissioner or Deputy Director or Assistant Commissioner or Assistant Director, or Income-tax
Officer, as the case may be;
(c) such other income-tax authority, ministerial staff, executive or consultant, as considered necessary by the
Board.
5. Procedure for assessment.––(1) The assessment under this Scheme shall be made as per the following procedure,
namely:__
(i) the National e-Assessment Centre shall serve a notice on the assessee under sub-section (2) of section 143,
specifying the issues for selection of his case for assessment;
(ii) the assessee may, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of notice referred to in sub-clause (i), file his
response to the National e-assessment Centre ;
(iii) the National e-assessment Centre shall assign the case selected for the purposes of e-assessment under this
Scheme to a specific assessment unit in any one Regional e-assessment Centre through an automated
allocation system;
(iv) where a case is assigned to the assessment unit, it may make a request to the National e-assessment Centre for
__
(a) obtaining such further information, documents or evidence from the assesse or any other person,
as it may specify;
(b) conducting of certain enquiry or verification by verification unit; and
(c) seeking technical assistance from the technical unit;
(v) where a request for obtaining further information, documents or evidence from the assessee or any other
person has been made by the assessment unit, the National e-assessment Centre shall issue appropriate
notice or requisition to the assessee or any other person for obtaining the information, documents or evidence
requisitioned by the assessment unit;
(vi) where a request for conducting of certain enquiry or verification by the verification unit has been made by the
assessment unit, the request shall be assigned by the National e-assessment Centre to a verification unit
through an automated allocation system;
(vii) where a request for seeking technical assistance from the technical unit has been made by the assessment unit,
the request shall be assigned by the National e-assessment Centre to a technical unit in any one Regional eassessment
Centres through an automated allocation system;
(viii) the assessment unit shall, after taking into account all the relevant material available on the record, make in
writing, a draft assessment order either accepting the returned income of the assessee or modifying the
returned income of the assesse, as the case may be, and send a copy of such order to the National eassessment
Centre;
(ix) the assessment unit shall, while making draft assessment order, provide details of the penalty proceedings to
be initiated therein, if any;
(x) the National e-assessment Centre shall examine the draft assessment order in accordance with the risk
management strategy specified by the Board, including by way of an automated examination tool, whereupon
it may decide to –
(a) finalise the assessment as per the draft assessment order and serve a copy of such order and notice
for initiating penalty proceedings, if any, to the assessee, alongwith the demand notice, specifying
the sum payable by, or refund of any amount due to, the assessee on the basis of such assessment;
or
(b) provide an opportunity to the assessee, in case a modification is proposed, by serving a notice
calling upon him to show cause as to why the assessment should not be completed as per the draft
assessment order; or
(c) assign the draft assessment order to a review unit in any one Regional e-assessment Centre, through
an automated allocation system, for conducting review of such order;
(xi) the review unit shall conduct review of the draft assessment order, referred to it by the National e-assessment
Centre whereupon it may decide to__
(a) concur with the draft assessment order and intimate the National e-assessment Centre about such
concurrence; or
(b) suggest such modification, as it may deem fit, to the draft assessment order and send its
suggestions to the National e-assessment Centre;
(xii) the National e-assessment Centre shall, upon receiving concurrence of the review unit, follow the procedure
laid down in sub-paragraph (a) or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (x), as the case may be;
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(xiii) the National e-assessment Centre shall, upon receiving suggestions for modifications from the review unit,
communicate the same to the Assessment unit;
(xiv) the assessment unit shall, after considering the modifications suggested by the Review unit, send the final
draft assessment order to the National e-assessment Centre;
(xv) The National e-assessment Centre shall, upon receiving final draft assessment order, follow the procedure laid
down in sub-paragraph (a) or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (x),as the case may be;
(xvi) The assessee may, in a case where show-cause notice under sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (x) has been
served upon him, furnish his response to the National e-assessment Centre on or before the date and time
specified in the notice;
(xvii) The National e-assessment Centre shall,-
(a) in a case where no response to the show-cause notice is received, finalise the assessment as per the
draft assessment order,as per the procedure laid down in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (x); or
(b) in any other case, send the response received from the assessee to the assessment unit;
(xviii) The assessment unit shall, after taking into account the response furnished by the assessee, make a revised
draft assessment order and send it to the National e-assessment Centre;
(xix) The National e-assessment Centre shall, upon receiving the revised draft assessment order,-
(a) in case no modification prejudicial to the interest of the assessee is proposed with reference to the draft
assessment order, finalise the assessment as per the procedure laid down in sub-paragraph (a) of
paragraph (x); or
(b) in case a modification prejudicial to the interest of the assessee is proposed with reference to the draft
assessment order,provide an opportunity to the assessee, as per the procedure laid down in subparagraph
(b) of paragraph (x);
(c) the response furnished by the assessee shall be dealt with as per the procedure laid down in paragraphs
(xvi),(xvii), and (xviii);
(xx) The National e-assessment Centre shall, after completion of assessment, transfer all the electronic records of
the case to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction over such case., for –
(a) imposition of penalty;
(b) collection and recovery of demand;
(c) rectification of mistake;
(d) giving effect to appellate orders;
(e) submission of remand report, or any other report to be furnished, or any representation to be made, or
any record to be produced before the Commissioner (Appeals), Appellate Tribunal or Courts, as the
case may be;
(f) proposal seeking sanction for launch of prosecution and filing of complaint before the Court;
(xxi) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (xx), the National e-assessment Centre may at any stage
of the assessment, if considered necessary, transfer the case to the Assessing Officer having jurisdiction
over such case.
6. Penalty proceedings for non-compliance.– (1) Any unit may, in the course of assessment proceedings, for noncompliance
of any notice, direction or order issued under this Scheme on the part of the assessee or any other person,
send recommendation for initiation of any penalty proceedings under Chapter XXI of the Act, against such assesse or any
other person, as the case may be, to the National e-assessment Centre, if it considers necessary or expedient to do so.
(2) The National e-assessment Centre shall, on receipt of such recommendation, serve a notice on the assessee or any
other person, as the case may be, calling upon him to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on him under
the relevant provisions of the Act.
14 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
(3) The response to show – cause notice furnished by the assessee or any other person, if any, shall be sent by the
National e-assessment Centre to the concerned unit which has made the recommendation for penalty.
(4) The said unit shall, after taking into consideration the response furnished by the assesse or any other person, as the
case may be, –
(a) make a draft order of penalty and send a copy of such draft to National e-assessment Centre; or
(b) drop the penalty after recording reasons, under intimation to the National e-assessment Centre.
(5) The National e-assessment Centre shall levy the penalty as per the said draft order of penalty and serve a copy of the
same on the assessee or any other person, as the case may be.
7. Appellate Proceedings.– An appeal against an assessment made by the National e-assessment Centre under this
Scheme shall lie before the Commissioner (Appeals) having jurisdiction over the jurisdictional Assessing Officer and any
reference to the Commissioner (Appeals) in any communication from the National e-assessment Centre shall mean such
jurisdictional Commissioner (Appeals).
8. Exchange of communication exclusively by electronic mode.–– For the purposes of this Scheme,-
(a) all communications between the National e-assessment Centre and the assessee, or his authorised
representative, shall be exchanged exclusively by electronic mode; and
(b) all internal communications between the National e-assessment Centre, Regional e-assessment Centres
and various units shall be exchanged exclusively by electronic mode.
9. Authentication of electronic record.–– For the purposes of this Scheme, an electronic record shall be authenticated
by the originator by affixing his digital signature in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the
Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000):
Provided that in case of the originator, being the assesse or any other person, such authentication may also be done by
electronic signature or electronic authentication technique in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section
3A of the said Act:
10. Delivery of electronic record.––(1) Every notice or order or any other electronic communication under this Scheme
shall be delivered to the addressee, being the assessee, by way of-
(a) placing an authenticated copy thereof in the assessee’s registered account; or
(b) sending an authenticated copy thereof to the registered email address of the assessee or his authorised
representative; or
(c) uploading an authenticated copy on the assessee’s Mobile App; and
followed by a real time alert.
(2) Every notice or order or any other electronic communication under this Scheme shall be delivered to the addressee,
being any other person, by sending an authenticated copy thereof to the registered email address of such person, followed
by a real time alert.
(3) The Assessee shall file his response to any notice or order or any other electronic communication, under this Scheme,
through his registered account, and once an acknowledgement is sent by the National e-assessment Centre containing the
hash result generated upon successful submission of response, the response shall be deemed to be authenticated.
(4) The time and place of dispatch and receipt of electronic record shall be determined in accordance with the provisions
of section 13 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
11. No personal appearance in the Centres or Units.––(1) A person shall not be required to appear either personally or
through authorised representative in connection with any proceedings under this Scheme before the income-tax authority
at the National e-assessment Centre or Regional e-assessment Centre or any unit set up under this Scheme.
(2) In a case where a modification is proposed in the draft assessment order, and an opportunity is provided to the
assessee by serving a notice calling upon him to show-cause as to why the assessment should not be completed as per the
¹Hkkx IIμ[k.M 3(ii)º Hkkjr dk jkti=k % vlk/kj.k 15
such draft assessment order, the assessee or his authorised representative, as the case may be, shall be entitled to seek
personal hearing so as to make his oral submissions or present his case before the income-tax authority in any unit under
this Scheme, and such hearing shall be conducted exclusively through video conferencing, including use of any
telecommunication application software which supports video telephony, in accordance with the procedure laid down by
the Board.
(3) Any examination or recording of the statement of the assessee or any other person (other than statement recorded in
the course of survey under section 133A of the Act) shall be conducted by an income-tax authority in any unit under this
Scheme, exclusively through video conferencing, including use of any telecommunication application software which
supports video telephony in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Board.
(4) The Board shall establish suitable facilities for video conferencing including telecommunication application software
which supports video telephony at such locations as may be necessary, so as to ensure that the assessee, or his authorised
representative, or any other person referred to in sub-paragraph (2) or sub-paragraph (3) is not denied the benefit of this
Scheme merely on the consideration that such assessee or his authorised representative, or any other person does not
have access to video conferencing at his end.
12. Power to specify format, mode, procedure and processes.––(1) The Principal Chief Commissioner or the Principal
Director General, in charge of the National e-assessment Centre shall lay down the standards, procedures and processes
for effective functioning of the National e-assessment Centre , Regional e-assessment Centres and the unit set-up under
this Scheme, in an automated and mechanised environment, including format, mode, procedure and processes in respect
of the following, namely:__
(i) service of the notice, order or any other communication;
(ii) receipt of any information or documents from the person in response to the notice, order or any other
communication;
(iii) issue of acknowledgment of the response furnished by the person;
(iv) provision of “e-proceeding” facility including login account facility, tracking status of assessment,
display of relevant details, and facility of download;
(v) accessing, verification and authentication of information and response including documents submitted
during the assessment proceedings;
(vi) receipt, storage and retrieval of information or documents in a centralised manner;
(vii) general administration and grievance redressal mechanism in the respective Centres and units.
[Notification No. 61/2019/F.No. 370149/154/2019-TPL]
ANKUR GOYAL, Under Secy.