ICAI proposal to least developed countries for developing their accounting profession.

Aiding transition and emerging economies, ICAI has been advocating the need for creating a sustainable framework of accounting in countries lacking accounting Infrastructure/where accountancy profession is evolving for creating a cadre of accounting professional who are able to support the evolution of Industry by propagating and putting in place a compliance regime and sound framework for reporting practices.

A very strong role is played by accountancy institutes in economic growth of countries and in capacity building. It is important to have a well-developed accounting institute which would help in developing competent accounting professionals and in promoting strong professional and ethical standards.

ICAI’s endeavor is to help Least Developing Countries (LDC’s) to establish Accounting Institute in those economies where the same does not exist and in further strengthening the accounting infrastructures in those countries where the same exists. ICAI proposes to undertake off- site and if required on-site study of the accounting profession in the relevant LDC in order to design its methodology and approach to forward the overall project.

- CA Kasliwal Ambar

CBDT working towards making AO-taxpayer communication hassle-free through email

Use of email based communication for paperless Assessment Proceedings-reg.

F. No. 225/267/2015-ITA-II
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES
NEW DELHI

Dated: October 19, 2015

To

The Principal Chief Commissioners of Income-tax, Delhi / Mumbai / Bengaluru / Ahmedabad / Chennai

Subject: Use of email based communication for paperless Assessment Proceedings-reg.

1. In order to improve the taxpayer services, enhance the efficiency and to usher in a paperless environment for carrying out the assessment proceedings, CBDT has decided to initiate the concept of using email for corresponding with taxpayers and sending through emails the questionnaires, notice etc. at the time of scrutiny proceedings and getting responses from them using the same medium on a pilot basis. This would eliminate the necessity of visiting the Income-tax Offices by the taxpayers, particularly in smaller cases, involving limited issues and where taxpayer is able to provide details required by the AO without necessitating his physical presence.
2. Steps are being taken by CBDT to devise suitable mechanism for setting up a standardized platform for making such email based communications between the taxpayer and the Income-tax Department seamless and user friendly. To start with, it has been decided to launch a pilot project in this regard in five non-corporate charges at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad & Chennai stations. Initially, 100 cases for e-hearing could be identified in each of these charges and major part of assessment processing should be conducted in electronic mode. Also, the cases covered under the aforesaid pilot project should be those which have been selected for scrutiny on the basis of AIR/CIB information or non-matching with 26AS-data. Consent of taxpayers should also be obtained in the beginning and cases of only willing taxpayers be considered under the pilot project. The officers of the Department, through their official e-mail IDs, can interact with the taxpayers at their e-mail IDs as mentioned in the respective returns of income.
3. Board desires that necessary steps may accordingly be taken for initiating the pilot project on top priority.

(Rohit Garg)

Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.

- CA Kasliwal Ambar