I. - RATIONALISATION MEASURES - DIRECT TAXES - Finance Bill, 2017

I. RATIONALISATION MEASURES Rationalisation of provisions of section 115JB in line with Indian Accounting Standard (Ind-AS) Central Government notified the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) which are converged with International Financial Reporting Standards(IFRS) and prescribed the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015 which laid down a roadmap for implementation of these Ind AS. Globally, different approaches have been adopted to deal with the tax issues arising from adoption of IFRS. For ensuring horizontal equity across the companies irrespective of the fact that whether they follow Ind AS or the existing Indian GAAP, the Central Government has issued Income Computation and Disclosure Standards (ICDS) for computation of taxable income for specified heads of income. As the book profit based on Ind AS compliant financial statement is likely to be different from the book profit based on existing Indian GAAP, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) constituted a committee in June, 2015 for suggesting the framework for computation of minimum alternate tax (MAT) liability under section 115JB for Ind AS compliant companies in the year of adoption and thereafter. The Committee submitted first interim report on 18th March, 2016 which was placed in public domain by the CBDT for wider public consultations. The Committee submitted the second interim report on 5th August, 2016 which was also placed in public domain. The comments/suggestions received in respect of the first and second interim report were examined by the Committee. After taking into account all the suggestions/comments received, the Committee submitted its final report on 22nd December, 2016. In view of the above, it is proposed to amend section 115JB so as to provide the framework for computation of book profit for Ind AS compliant companies in the year of adoption and thereafter. The main features of this proposed framework are as under: A. MAT on Ind AS compliant financial statement (i) No further adjustments to the net profits before other comprehensive income of Ind AS compliant companies, other than those already specified under section 115JB of the Act shall be made. (ii) The other comprehensive income includes certain items that will permanently be recorded in reserves and hence never be reclassified to the statement of profit and loss included in the computation of book profits. These items shall be included in book profits for MAT purposes at the point of time as specified below- SI. No Items Point of time 1 Changes in revaluation surplus of Property, Plant or Equipment (PPE) and Intangible assets (Ind AS 16 and Ind AS 38) To be included in book profits at the time of realisation/disposal/retirement or otherwise transferred 2 Gains and losses from investments in equity instruments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income (Ind AS 109) To be included in book profits at the time of realisation/disposal/retirement or otherwise transferred 3 Remeasurements of defined benefit plans (Ind AS 19) To be included in book profits every year as the remeasurements gains and losses arise 4 Any other item To be included in book profits every year as the gains and losses arise (iii) Appendix A of Ind AS 10 provides that any distributions of non-cash assets to shareholders (for example, in a demerger) shall be accounted for at fair value. The difference between the carrying value of the assets and the fair value is recorded in the profit and loss account. Correspondingly, the reserves are debited at fair value to record the distribution as a 'deemed dividend' to the shareholders. As there is a corresponding adjustment in retained earnings, this difference arising on demerger shall be excluded from the book profits. However, in the case of a resulting company, where the property and the liabilities of the undertaking or undertakings being received by it are recorded at values different from values appearing in the books of account of the demerged company immediately before the demerger, any change in such value shall be ignored for the purpose of computing of book profit of the resulting company. B. MAT on first time adoption (i) The adjustments arising on account of transition to Ind AS from existing Indian GAAP is required to be recorded directly in Other Equity at the date of transition to Ind AS. Several of these items would subsequently never be reclassified to the statement of profit and loss/included in the computation of book profits. Accordingly, the following treatment is proposed: (I) Those adjustments recorded in other comprehensive income and which would subsequently be reclassified to the profit and loss, shall be included in book profits in the year in which these are reclassified to the profit and loss; (II) Those adjustments recorded in other comprehensive income and which would never be subsequently reclassified to the profit and loss shall be included in book profits as specified hereunder- SI. No. Items Point of time 1 Changes in revaluation surplus of PPE and Intangible assets (Ind AS 16 and Ind AS 38) To be included in book profits at the time of realisation/disposal/retirement or otherwise transferred 2 Gains and losses from investments in equity instruments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income (Ind AS 109) To be included in book profits at the time of realisation/disposal/retirement or otherwise transferred 3 Remeasurements of defined benefit plans (Ind AS 19) To be included in book profits equally over a period of five years starting from the year of first time adoption of Ind AS 4 Any other item To be included in book profits equally over a period of five years starting from the year of first time adoption of Ind AS (III) All other adjustments recorded in Reserves and Surplus (excluding Capital Reserve and Securities Premium Reserve) as referred to in Division II of Schedule III of Companies Act, 2013 and which would otherwise never subsequently be reclassified to the profit and loss account, shall be included in the book profits, equally over a period of five years starting from the year of first time adoption of Ind AS subject to the following- a) PPE and intangible assets at fair value as deemed cost An entity may use fair value in its opening Ind AS Balance Sheet as deemed cost for an item of PPE or an intangible asset as mentioned in paragraphs D5 and D7 of Ind AS 101. In such cases the treatment shall be as under- The existing provisions for computation of book profits under section 115JB of the Act provide that in case of revaluation of assets, any impact on account of such revaluation shall be ignored for the purposes of computation of book profits. Further, the adjustments in retained earnings on first time adoption with respect to items of PPE and Intangible assets shall be ignored for the purposes of computation of book profits. Depreciation shall be computed ignoring the amount of aforesaid retained earnings adjustment. Similarly, gain/loss on realisation/disposal/retirement of such assets shall be computed ignoring the aforesaid retained earnings adjustment. b] Investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates at fair value as deemed cost An entity may use fair value in its opening Ind AS Balance Sheet as deemed cost for investment in a subsidiary, joint venture or associate in its separate financial statements as mentioned in paragraph D15 of Ind AS 101. In such cases retained earnings adjustment shall be included in the book profit at the time of realisation of such investment. c] Cumulative translation differences An entity may elect a choice whereby the cumulative translation differences for all foreign operations are deemed to be zero at the date of transition to Ind AS. Further, the gain or loss on a subsequent disposal of any foreign operation shall exclude translation differences that arose before the date of transition to Ind AS and shall include only the translation differences after the date of transition. In such cases, to ensure that such Cumulative translation differences on the date of transition which have been transferred to retained earnings, are taken into account, these shall be included in the book profits at the time of disposal of foreign operations as mentioned in paragraph 48 of Ind AS 21. (ii) All other adjustments to retained earnings at the time of transition (including for example, Decommissioning Liability, Asset retirement obligations, Foreign exchange capitalisation/decapitalization, Borrowing costs adjustments etc.) shall be included in book profits, equally over a period of five years starting from the year of first time adoption of Ind AS. (iii) Section 115JB of the Act already provides for adjustments on account of deferred tax and its provision. Any deferred tax adjustments recorded in Reserves and Surplus on account of transition to Ind AS shall also be ignored. C. Reference year for first time adoption adjustments In the first year of adoption of Ind AS, the companies would prepare Ind AS financial statement for reporting year with a comparative financial statement for immediately preceding year. As per Ind AS 101, a company would make all Ind AS adjustments on the opening date of the comparative financial year. The entity is also required to present an equity reconciliation between previous Indian GAAP and Ind AS amounts, both on the opening date of preceding year as well as on the closing date of the preceding year. It is proposed that for the purposes of computation of book profits of the year of adoption and the proposed adjustments, the amounts adjusted as of the opening date of the first year of adoption shall be considered. For example, companies which adopt Ind AS with effect from 1 April 2016 are required prepare their financial statements for the year 2016-17 as per requirements of Ind AS. Such companies are also required to prepare an opening balance sheet as of 1 April 2015 and restate the financial statements for the comparative period 2015-16. In such a case, the first time adoption adjustments as of 31 March 2016 shall be considered for computation of MAT liability for previous year 2016-17 (Assessment year 2017-18) and thereafter. Further, in this case, the period of five years proposed above shall be previous years 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. As the Ind-AS is required to be adopted by certain companies for financial year 2016-17 mandatorily, these amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2017-18 and subsequent assessment years. [Clause 47] Clarification regarding the applicability of section 112 Finance Act, 2012 with effect from 1st April, 2013 amended the provisions of section 112(1)(c) to provide concessional rate of taxation of ten per cent for long-term capital gains arising from the transfer of unlisted securities in case of non-resident. There was an uncertainty as to whether the provision of section 112(1)(c)(iii) is applicable to the transfer of share of a private company. Finance Act, 2016 amended section 112(1)(c) to clarify that the share of company in which public are not substantially interested shall also be chargeable to tax at the rate of ten per cent with effect from 1st April, 2017. As the concessional rate was provided with effect from 1st April, 2013, there was uncertainty about the applicability of the amendment to the intervening period. With a view to clarify that the amendment made by Finance Act, 2016 shall also apply to the period from 1st April, 2013 to 31st March, 2017, it is proposed to amend section 50 of the Finance Act, 2016 so as to provide that the effective date of amendment made to section 112(1)(c)(iii) vide Finance Act,2016 shall be 01-04-2013 instead of 01-04-2017. This amendment will take effect, retrospectively from 1st April, 2013 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2013-14 and subsequent assessment years. [Clause 150] Rationalization of rebate allowable under Section 87A The existing provisions of section 87A provide for a rebate up to ₹ 5000 from the income-tax payable to a resident individual if this total income does not exceed ₹ 5,00,000. In view of proposed rationalisation of tax rates for individuals in the income slab of ₹ 2,50,000 to ₹ 5,00,000,it is proposed to amend section 87A so as to reduce the maximum amount of rebate available under this section from existing ₹ 5000 to ₹ 2500. It is also proposed to provide that this rebate shall be available to only resident individuals whose total income does not exceed ₹ 3,50,000. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent assessment years. [Clause 38] Rationalisation of provisions of Section 10AA Under the existing provisions of the section 10AA, deduction is allowed from the total income of an assessee, in respect of profits and gains from his Unit operating in SEZ, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. Section 10AA allows deduction in computing the total income of the assessee, hence the deduction is to be allowed for the total income of the assessee as computed in accordance with the provision of the Act before giving effect to the provisions of section 10AA. However, courts have taken a view (while deciding the matter pertaining to section 10A which also contains similar provision) that the deduction is to be allowed from the total income of the undertaking and not from the total income of the assessee. In view of the above, it is proposed to clarify that the amount of deduction referred to in section 10AA shall be allowed from the total income of the assessee computed in accordance with the provisions of the Act before giving effect to the provisions of the section 10AA and the deduction under section 10AA in no case shall exceed the said total income. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent assessment years. [Clause 7] Consolidation of plans within a scheme of mutual fund Finance Act,2016 amended section 47 of the Act so as to provide tax neutrality to the transfer of units in a consolidating plan of mutual fund scheme made in consideration of the allotment of units in the consolidated plan of that mutual fund scheme. It is proposed to amend section 2(42A) and section 49 to provide that cost of acquisition of the units in the consolidated plan of mutual fund scheme referred to in section 47(xix) shall be the cost of units in consolidating plan of mutual fund scheme and period of holding of the units of consolidated plan of mutual fund scheme shall include the period for which the units in consolidating plan of mutual fund scheme were held by the assessee. These amendments will take effect accordingly, from 1st April, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2017-18 and subsequent assessment years. [Clauses 3 25] Definition of 'person responsible for paying' in case of payments covered under sub-section (6) of section 195 The existing provisions of section 204 of Act, has defined the meaning of 'person responsible for paying' to include employer, company or its principal officer or the payer. Further clause (iii) of section 204 of the Act, inter alia, provides that in the case of credit or payment of any sum chargeable under the provisions of this Act, the 'person responsible for paying' shall be the payer himself, or, if the payer is a company, the company itself including the principal officer thereof. However, the said section does not cover in respect of payment of any sum as per sub-section (6) of section 195. Which mandates the 'person responsible for paying' to furnish information relating to payment of any sum, whether chargeable to tax or not. Thus in order to bring clarity to the meaning of 'person responsible for paying' in case of payment by a resident to a non-resident in accordance with section 195(6) of the Act, it is proposed to amend the said section of the Act to provide that in the case of furnishing of information relating to payment to a non-resident, not being a company, or to a foreign company, of any sum, whether or not chargeable under the provisions of this Act, 'person responsible for paying' shall be the payer himself, or, if the payer is a company, the company itself including the principal officer thereof. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clause 70] Clarification with regard to interpretation of 'terms' used in an agreement entered into under section 90 and 90A. Under the existing provisions of Section 90 of the Act, power has been conferred upon the Central Government to enter into agreement with the Government of any country outside India for granting relief in respect of income on which income- tax has been paid both under the said Act and income-tax Act in that foreign country, avoidance of double taxation of income, exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax or recovery of income-tax. Similar provisions are provided in section 90A of the Act in the case of an agreement entered into by any specified association in India with any specified association in the specified territory outside India. It is further provided in section 90 and 90A of the Act that any 'term' used but not defined in this Act or in the agreement referred to in sub-section (1) of respective provisions shall have the meaning assigned to it in the notification issued by the Central Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf, unless the context otherwise requires, provided the same is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the agreement. The Income-tax simplification committee in its final report has suggested to bring in more clarity in the Act in respect of interpretation of 'terms' used in an agreement entered under section 90 or 90A for the purposes of its application in order to reduce the avoidable litigation related to taxation of non- residents. In the light of above discussion and to bring in clarity to avoid litigation , it is proposed to amend the sections 90 and 90A of the Act, to provide that where any 'term' used in an agreement entered into under sub-section (1) of Section 90 and 90A of the Act, is defined under the said agreement, the said term shall be assigned the meaning as provided in the said agreement and where the term is not defined in the agreement, but is defined in the Act, it shall be assigned the meaning as definition in the Act or any explanation issued by the Central Government. These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years. [Clauses 39 40] Actual cost of asset in case of withdrawal of deduction in terms of Sub-section (7B) of section 35AD The existing provisions of Section 35AD of the Act, inter alia provides for investment linked deduction on amount of capital expenditure incurred, wholly or exclusively, the purposes of business, during the previous year for a specified business excluding capital expenditure incurred for acquisition of any land or goodwill or financial instrument. Further sub-section (7B) of Section 35AD provides that where any asset on which benefit of section 35AD is claimed and allowed, is used for a purpose other than specified business, the benefit of deduction already granted under section 35AD shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee. However, it further provides that the deemed income shall be net of normal depreciation as would be entitled. Clause (1) of section 43 defines actual cost for the purposes of claiming depreciation under section 32 of the Act in certain situations. However, there is no clarity on determination of actual cost for the purposes of allowance of depreciation of such assets in respect of which the deduction which is already allowed in a previous year under section 35AD of the Act, is withdrawn in terms of sub-section (7B) of the said section. In light of the recommendations of Income-tax simplification committee and to bring clarity, it is proposed to amend the provisions of the section 43 of the Act, to provide that where any capital asset in respect of which deduction allowed under section 35AD is deemed to be the income of the assessee in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (7B) of the said section, the actual cost to the assessee shall be the actual cost to the assessee, as reduced by an amount equalto the amount of depreciation calculated at the rate in force that would have been allowable had the asset been used for the purposes of business since the date of its acquisition. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years. [Clause 16] Clarity of procedure in respect of change or modifications of object and filing of return of income in case of entities exempt under sections 11 and 12 The existing provisions of section 12A of the Act provide for conditions for applicability of sections 11 and 12 in relation to the benefit of exemption in respect of income of any trust or institution. Further, the provisions of section 12AA of the Act provide for registration of the trust or institution which entitles them to the benefit of sections 11 and 12. It also provides the circumstances under which registration can be cancelled, one such circumstance being satisfaction of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner that its activities are not genuine or are not being carried out in accordance with its objects subsequent to grant of registration. However, at present there is no explicit provision in the Act which mandates said trust or institution to approach for fresh registration in the event of adoption or undertaking modifications of the objects after the registration has been granted. Therefore, it is proposed to amend section 12A so as to provide that where a trust or an institution has been granted registration under section 12AA or has obtained registration at any time under section 12A [as it stood before its amendment by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1996] and, subsequently, it has adopted or undertaken modifications of the objects which do not conform to the conditions of registration, it shall be required to obtain fresh registration by making an application within a period of thirty days from the date of such adoption or modifications of the objects in the prescribed form and manner. Further, as per the existing provisions of said section, the entities registered under section 12AA are required to file return of income under sub-section (4A) of section 139, if the total income without giving effect to the provisions of sections 11 and 12 exceeds the maximum amount which is not chargeable to income-tax. However, there is no clarity as to whether the said return of income is to be filed within time allowed u/s 139 of the Act or otherwise. In order to provide clarity in this regard, it is proposed to further amend section 12A so as to provide for further condition that the person in receipt of the income chargeable to income-tax shall furnish the return of income within the time allowed under section 139 of the Act. These amendments are clarificatory in nature. These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years. [Clauses 9 10] Cost of Acquisition of capital assets of entities in case of levy of tax on accreted income under section 115TD The existing provisions of the section 49 of the Act provides for computation of cost with reference to certain modes of acquisition of capital asset. It is proposed to amend said section so as to provide that where the capital gain arises from the transfer of an asset, being the asset held by a trust or an institution in respect of which accreted income has been computed, and the tax has been paid thereon in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XII-EB, the cost of acquisition of such asset shall be deemed to be the fair market value of the asset which has been taken into account for computation of accreted income as on the specified date referred to in sub-section (2) of section 115TD. The proposed amendment is consequential in nature. This amendment will take effect retrospectively from 1st June, 2016 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2016-17 and subsequent years. [Clause 25] Strengthening of PAN quoting mechanism in the TCS regime Statuary provisions for deduction of tax at source (TDS) at higher rate of 20% or the applicable rate whichever is higher) in case of non-quoting of Permanent Account Number (PAN) is provided under section 206AA of the Act and it exist since April, 2010. PAN acts as a common thread for linking the information in the departmental data base. It may also be noted that the process of allotment of PAN is made simple and robust. PAN application can be made online and PAN gets allotted in less than a week. In order to strengthen the PAN mechanism, it is proposed to insert new section 206CC to provide the following: I. any person paying any sum or amount, on which tax is collectable at source under Chapter XVII BB (hereafter referred to as collectee) shall furnish his Permanent Account Number to the person responsible for collecting such tax (hereafter referred to as collector), failing which tax shall be collected at the twice the rate mentioned in the relevant section under Chapter XVII BB or at the rate of five per cent. whichever is higher. II. that the declaration filed under sub section (1A) of section 206C shall not be valid unless the person filing the declaration furnishes his Permanent Account Number in such declaration. III. that in case any declaration becomes invalid under sub-section (2), the collector shall collect the tax at source in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1). IV. no certificate under sub section (9) of section 206C shall be granted unless it contains the Permanent Account Number of the applicant. V. the collector knows about the correct PAN of the collectee it is also proposed to provide for mandatory quoting of PAN of the collectee by both the collector and the collectee in all correspondence, bills and vouchers exchanged between them. VI. that the collectee shall furnish his Permanent Account Number to the collector who shall indicate the same in all its correspondence, bills, vouchers and other documents which are sent to collectee. VII. where the Permanent Account Number provided by the collectee is invalid or it does not belong to the collectee, then it shall be deemed that Permanent Account Number has not been furnished to the collector. VIII. to exempt the non-resident who does not have permanent establishment in India from the provisions of this proposed section 206CC of the Act. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clause 72] Rationalization of deduction under section 80CCG. Under the existing provisions of section 80CCG, deduction for three consecutive assessment years is allowed upto ₹ 25,000 to a resident individual for investment made in listed equity shares or listed units of an equity oriented fund subject to fulfilment of certain conditions. This deduction was introduced vide Finance Act, 2012. However considering the fact that limited number of individuals availed this deduction and also to rationalize the multiplicity of deductions available under Chapter VI-A of the Act, it is proposed to phase out this deduction by providing that no deduction under section 80CCG shall be allowed from assessment year 2018-19. However, an assessee who has claimed deduction under this section for assessment year 2017-18 and earlier assessment years shall be allowed deduction under this section till the assessment year 2019-20 if he is otherwise eligible to claim the deduction as per the provisions of this section. This amendment will take effect from the 1st April, 2018 and shall accordingly apply in relation to assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years. [Clause 34] Restriction on set-off of loss from House property Section 71 of the Act relates to set-off of loss from one head against income from another. In line with the international best practices it is proposed to insert sub-section (3A) in the said section to provide that set-off of loss under the head Income from house property against any other head of income shall be restricted to two lakh rupees for any assessment year. However, the unabsorbed loss shall be allowed to be carried forward for set-off in subsequent years in accordance with the existing provisions of the Act. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018 and will, accordingly apply in relation to assessment year 2018-19 and subsequent years. [Clause 31] Reason to believe to conduct a search, etc. not to be disclosed Sub-section (1) and (1A) of section 132 provide that where an authority mentioned therein, based on the information in his possession, has 'reason to believe' or 'reason to suspect' of circumstances referred to in the said sub-sections, he may authorize an authority specified therein to carry out search seizure. Similarly, sub-section (1) of section 132A provides that the specified income-tax authority based on 'reason to believe' can authorise other income-tax authority mentioned therein to requisition from some other officer or authority to deliver books of account, documents or assets of the assessee to the income-tax authority so authorised. Confidentiality and sensitivity are the hallmarks of proceedings under section 132 and section 132A. However, certain judicial pronouncements have created ambiguity in respect of the disclosure of 'reason to believe' or 'reason to suspect' recorded by the income-tax authority to conduct a search under section 132 or to make requisition under section 132A. It is therefore proposed to insert an Explanation to sub-section (1) and to sub-section (1A) of section 132 and to sub-section (1) of section 132A to declare that the 'reason to believe' or 'reason to suspect', as the case may be, shall not be disclosed to any person or any authority or the Appellate Tribunal. These amendments will take effect retrospectively from the date of enactment of the said provisions viz. to sub-section (1) of section 132 from 1st day of April, 1962 and to sub-section (1A) of section 132 and to sub-section (1) of section 132A from 1st day of October, 1975. [Clauses 50 51] Power of provisional attachment and to make reference to Valuation Officer to authorised officer Section 132 of the Act provides the power of search and seizure subject to fulfilment of conditions specified therein. In order to protect the interest of revenue and safeguard recovery in search cases, it is proposed to insert sub-section (9B) and (9C) in the said section, to provide that during the course of a search or seizure or within a period of sixty days from the date on which the last of the authorisations for search was executed, the authorised officer on being satisfied that for protecting the interest of revenue it is necessary so to do, may attach provisionally any property belonging to the assessee with the prior approval of Principal Director General or Director General or Principal Director or Director. It has been proposed that such provisional attachment shall cease to have effect after the expiry of six months from the date of order of such attachment. In order to enable correct estimation and quantification of undisclosed income held in the form of investment or property by the assessee by the Investigation wing of the Department, it is further proposed to insert a new sub-section (9D) in the said section to provide that in a case of search, the authorised officer may, for the purpose of estimation of fair market value of a property, make a reference to a Valuation Officer referred to in section 142A, for valuation in the manner provided under that sub-section. It also provides that the Valuation Officer shall furnish the valuation report within sixty days of receipt of such reference. It is also proposed to amend Explanation 1 to section 132, so as to provide that for the purposes of sub-sections 9A, 9B and 9D, with respect to execution of an authorisation for search under the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 153B shall apply. These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clause 50] Rationalisation of the provisions in respect of power to call for information The existing provisions of section 133 empower certain income-tax authorities to call for information for the purpose of any inquiry or proceeding under the Act. The second proviso to the said section provides that the power in respect of an inquiry, in a case where no proceeding is pending, shall not be exercised by any income-tax authority below the rank of the Principal Director or Director or the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner without the prior approval of such authorities. Considering the requirement of the work profile of the authorities working in the Investigation Directorate, it is proposed to amend the first proviso of the said section and provide that the power in respect of inquiry or proceeding under the Act, as referred to in clause (6) of the said section, may also be exercised by the Joint Director, the Deputy Director and the Assistant Director. It is further proposed to amend the second proviso of the said section to provide that the Joint Director, the Deputy Director or the Assistant Director may exercise the powers in respect of such inquiry, without seeking prior approval of higher authorities. These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clause 52] Extension of the power to survey The existing provisions of section 133A empower an income-tax authority to enter any place, at which a business or profession is carried on, or at which any books of account or other documents or any part of cash or stock or other valuable article or thing relating to the business or profession are kept, for the purposes of conducting a survey. It is proposed to widen the scope of the said section by amending sub-section (1) to include any place, at which an activity for charitable purpose is carried on. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clause 53] Legislative framework to enable centralised issuance of notice and processing of information under section 133C Section 133C of the Act empowers the prescribed income-tax authority to issue notice calling for information and documents for the purpose of verification of information in its possession. In order to expedite verification and analysis of the information and documents so received, it is proposed to amend section 133C to empower the Central Board of Direct Taxes to make a scheme for centralised issuance of notice calling for information and documents for the purpose of verification of information in its possession, processing of such documents and making the outcome thereof available to the Assessing Officer for necessary action, if any. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clause 54] Rationalisation of provisions of the Income Declaration Scheme, 2016 and consequential amendment to section 153A and 153C The existing provisions of clause (c) of the section 197 of the Finance Act, 2016 provide that where any income has accrued, arisen or been received or any asset has been acquired out of such income prior to commencement of the Income Declaration Scheme, 2016 (the Scheme), and no declaration in respect of such income is made under the Scheme, then, such income shall be deemed to have accrued, arisen or received, as the case may be, in the year in which a notice under sub-section (1) of section 142 or sub-section (2) of section 143 or section 148 or section 153A or section 153C of the Income-tax Act is issued by the Assessing Officer, and provisions of the said Act shall apply accordingly. In view of the various representations received from stakeholders citing genuine hardships if the said provision is made applicable, it is proposed to omit clause (c) of section 197 of the Finance Act, 2016. This amendment will take effect retrospectively from 1st June, 2016. However, in order to protect the interest of the revenue in cases where tangible evidence(s) are found during a search or seizure operation (including 132A cases) and the same is represented in the form of undisclosed investment in any asset, it is proposed that section 153A relating to search assessments be amended to provide that notice under the said section can be issued for an assessment year or years beyond the sixth assessment year already provided upto the tenth assessment year if- (i) the Assessing Officer has in his possession books of accounts or other documents or evidence which reveal that the income which has escaped assessment amounts to or is likely to amount to fifty lakh rupees or more in one year or in aggregate in the relevant four assessment years(falling beyond the sixth year); (ii) such income escaping assessment is represented in the form of asset; (iii) the income escaping assessment or part thereof relates to such year or years. It is however proposed that the amended provisions of section 153A shall apply where search under section 132 is initiated or requisition under section 132A is made on or after the 1st day of April, 2017. It is also proposed to consequentially amend section 153C to provide a reference to the relevant assessment year or years as referred to in section 153A. These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2017. [Clauses 59, 61, 150] Exemption of income of Chief Minister's Relief Fund or the Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund Under the existing provisions contained in clause (23C) of section 10, exemption is provided in respect of income of certain funds which, inter-alia, include, the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. The Chief Minister's Relief Fund or the Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund, referred at sub-clause (iiihf) of clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 80G, which is of the same nature at the level of state or the Union Territory as is the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund at the national level, is not exempted under the said clause. In the absence of such exemption, these funds are required to obtain registration under section 12A of the Act in order to avail exemption of its income under section 11 and 12 of the said Act and are required to fulfil certain conditions. Therefore, it is proposed to amend said clause so as to provide the benefit of exemption to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund or the Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund also. This amendment will take effect retrospectively from the 1st April, 1998, the date on which sub-clause (iihf) of clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 80G relating to deduction in any sum paid to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund or the Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund came into force, and will, accordingly, apply in relation to assessment year 1998-99 and subsequent years. [Clause 6] Correct reference to FEMA instead of FERA Existing sub-clause (ii) of clause 4 of section 10 refers to any income of an individual by way of interest on moneys standing to his credit in a Non-Resident (External) Account in any bank in India in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999), and the rules made thereunder. The proviso to the said sub-clause refers individual to be a person resident outside India, as defined in clause (q) of section 2 of Act 46 of 1973, i.e., Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973, (FERA) which stands repealed and re-enacted as Act 42 of 1999, i.e., the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). The definition of person outside India is occurring in clause (w) of FEMA. With a view to reflect the correct definition of the expression person resident outside India , it is proposed to amend the said proviso. The amendment is clarificatory in nature. This amendment will take effect retrospectively from 1st April, 2013, and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2013-14 and subsequent years. [Clause 6]