Assessment  

 143. 1) Where a return has been made under section 139, or in response to a notice under sub-section (1) of section 142, such return shall be processed in the following manner, namely:—

(a) the total income or loss shall be computed after making the following adjustments, namely:— 

(i) any arithmetical error in the return; [***] or (Omitted w.e.f. 1st april,2017

(ii) an incorrect claim, if such incorrect claim is apparent from any information in the return;

((iii) disallowance of loss claimed, if return of the previous year for which set off of loss is claimed was furnished beyond the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139.

(iv15[disallowance of expenditure or increase in income indicated] in the audit report but not taken into account in computing the total income in the return;

(v) disallowance of deduction claimed under 16[section 10AA or under any of the provisions of Chapter VI-A under the heading “C.-Deductions in respect of certain incomes”, if] e return is furnished beyond the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139; or

(vi) addition of income appearing in Form 26AS or Form 16A or Form 16 which has not been included in computing the total income in the return:

Provided that no such adjustments shall be made unless an intimation is given to the assessee of such adjustments either in writing or in electronic mode:

Provided further that the response received from the assessee, if any, shall be considered before making any adjustment, and in a case where no response is received within thirty days of the issue of such intimation, such adjustments shall be made;) [Inserted w.e.f. 1st April, 2017] 

7[Provided also that no adjustment shall be made under sub-clause (vi) in relation to a return furnished for the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2018;]

(b) the tax 1interest and fee, if any, shall be computed on the basis of the total income computed under clause (a);

(c) the sum payable by, or the amount of refund due to, the assessee shall be determined after adjustment of the tax 2interest and fee, if any, computed under clause (b) by any tax deducted at source, any tax collected at source, any advance tax paid,9[any relief allowable under section 89], any relief allowable under an agreement under section 90 or section 90A, or any relief allowable under section 91, any rebate allowable under Part A of Chapter VIII, any tax paid on self-assessment and any amount paid otherwise by way of tax 3interest and fee;

(d) an intimation shall be prepared or generated and sent to the assessee specifying the sum determined to be payable by, or the amount of refund due to, the assessee under clause (c); and

(e) the amount of refund due to the assessee in pursuance of the determination under clause (c) shall be granted to the assessee:

Provided that an intimation shall also be sent to the assessee in a case where the loss declared in the return by the assessee is adjusted but no tax 4interest and fee is payable by, or no refund is due to, him:

Provided further that no intimation under this sub-section shall be sent after the expiry of 14{nine months} from the end of the financial year in which the return is made.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section,—

(a) "an incorrect claim apparent from any information in the return" shall mean a claim, on the basis of an entry, in the return,—

(i) of an item, which is inconsistent with another entry of the same or some other item in such return;

(ii) in respect of which the information required to be furnished under this Act to substantiate such entry has not been so furnished; or

(iii) in respect of a deduction, where such deduction exceeds specified statutory limit which may have been expressed as monetary amount or percentage or ratio or fraction;

(b) the acknowledgement of the return shall be deemed to be the intimation in a case where no sum is payable by, or refundable to, the assessee under clause (c), and where no adjustment has been made under clause (a).

(1A) For the purposes of processing of returns under sub-section (1), the Board may make a scheme for centralised processing of returns with a view to expeditiously determining the tax payable by, or the refund due to, the assessee as required under the said sub-section.

(1B) Save as otherwise expressly provided, for the purpose of giving effect to the scheme made under sub-section (1A), the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any of the provisions of this Act relating to processing of returns shall not apply or shall apply with such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be specified in that notification; so, however, that no direction shall be issued after the 31st day of March, 2012.

(1C) Every notification issued under sub-section (1B), along with the scheme made under sub-section (1A), shall, as soon as may be after the notification is issued, be laid before each House of Parliament.

Applicable upto 31st March,2017 

5[1D) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the processing of a return shall not be necessary, where a notice has been issued to the assessee under sub-section (2). 

(1D) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the processing of a return shall not be necessary before the expiry of the period specified in the second proviso to sub-section (1), where a notice has been issued to the assessee under sub-section (2) . 

Provided that such return shall be processed before the issuance of an order under sub-section (3)(Inserted w.e.f.1st April, 2017) [(1D) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the processing of a return shall not be necessary, where a notice has been issued to the assessee under sub-section (2) subsitituted w.e.f 1st day of April, 2018)]

(2) Where a return has been furnished under section 139, or in response to a notice under sub-section (1) of section 142, the Assessing Officer or the prescribed income-tax authority, as the case may be, if, considers it necessary or expedient to ensure that the assessee has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not under-paid the tax in any manner, shall serve on the assessee a notice requiring him, on a date to be specified therein, either to attend the office of the Assessing Officer or to produce, or cause to be produced before the Assessing Officer any evidence on which the assessee may rely in support of the return:

Provided that no notice under this sub-section shall be served on the assessee after the expiry of 17{three}  months from the end of the financial year in which the return is furnished

(3) On the day specified in the notice,—

(i) issued under clause (i) of sub-section (2), or as soon afterwards as may be, after hearing such evidence and after taking into account such particulars as the assessee may produce, the Assessing Officer shall, by an order in writing, allow or reject the claim or claims specified in such notice and make an assessment determining the total income or loss accordingly, and determine the sum payable by the assessee on the basis of such assessment;

 (ii) issued under clause (ii) of sub-section (2), or as soon afterwards as may be, after hearing such evidence as the assessee may produce and such other evidence as the Assessing Officer may require on specified points, and after taking into account all relevant material which he has gathered, the Assessing Officer shall, by an order in writing, make an assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee, and determine the sum payable by him or refund of any amount due to him on the basis of such assessment:

18[Provided that in the case of a—

(a) research association referred to in clause (21) of section 10 ;

(b) news agency referred to in clause (22B) of section 10 ;

(c) association or institution referred to in clause (23A) of section 10 ;

(d) institution referred to in clause (23B) of section 10 ,

 

which is required to furnish the return of income under sub-section (4C) of section 139 , no order making an assessment of the total income or loss of such research association, news agency, association or institution, shall be made by the Assessing Officer, without giving effect to the provisions of section 10 , unless—

(i) the Assessing Officer has intimated the Central Government or the prescribed authority the contravention of the provisions of clause (21) or clause (22B) or clause (23A) or clause (23B), as the case may be, by such research association, news agency, association or institution, where in his view such contravention has taken place; and

(ii) the approval granted to such research association or other association or institution has been withdrawn or notification issued in respect of such news agency or association or institution has been rescinded:]

19[Provided further that where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that any fund or institution referred to in subclause (iv) or trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (v) or any university or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (vi) or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (via), of clause (23C) of section 10 , or any trust or institution referred to in section 11, has committed any specified violation as defined in Explanation 2 to the fifteenth proviso to clause (23C) of section 10 or the Explanation to sub-section (4) of section 12AB, as the case may be, he shall–

(a) send a reference to the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner to withdraw the approval or registration, as the case may be; and

(b)no order making an assessment of the total ncome or loss of such fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution shall be made byhim without giving effect to the order passed by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the fifteenth proviso to

clause (23C) of section 10 or clause (ii) or clause (iii) of sub-section (4) of section 12AB: Provided also]

20[Provided also that notwithstanding anything contained in the first and the second proviso, no effect shall be given by the Assessing Officer to the provisions of clause (23C) of section 10 in the case of a trust or institution for a previous year, if the provisions of the first proviso to clause (15) of section 2 become applicable in the case of such person in such previous year, whether or not the approval granted to such trust or institution or notification issued in respect of such trust or institution has been withdrawn or rescinded.]

8[(3A) The Central Government may make a scheme, by notification in the Official Gazette, for the purposes of making assessment of total income or loss of the assessee under sub-section (3) 10[or section 144] so as to impart greater efficiency, transparency and accountability by—

(a)  eliminating the interface between the Assessing Officer and the assessee in the course of proceedings to the extent technologically feasible;

(b)  optimising utilisation of the resources through economies of scale and functional specialisation;

(c)  introducing a team-based assessment with dynamic jurisdiction.

(3B) The Central Government may, for the purpose of giving effect to the scheme made under sub-section (3A), by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any of the provisions of this Act relating to assessment of total income or loss shall not apply or shall apply with such exceptions, modifications and adaptations as may be specified in the notification:

Provided that no direction shall be issued after the 11[31st day of March,122021].

(3C) Every notification issued under sub-section (3A) and sub-section (3B) shall, as soon as may be after the notification is issued, be laid before each House of Parliament.]

13[(3D) Nothing contained in sub-section (3A) and sub-section (3B) shall apply to the assessment made under sub-section (3) or under section 144 , as the case may be, on or after the 1st day of April, 2021.] 

(4) Where a regular assessment under sub-section (3) of this section or section 144 is made,—

(a) any tax or interest paid by the assessee under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have been paid towards such regular assessment ;

(b) if no refund is due on regular assessment or the amount refunded under sub-section (1) exceeds the amount refundable on regular assessment, the whole or the excess amount so refunded shall be deemed to be tax payable by the assessee and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly.

(5) [Omitted by the Finance Act, 1999, w.e.f. 1-6-1999.

6[Providedfurther that where an order under section 250 or section 254 or section 260 or section 262 or section 263 or section 264 requires verification of any issue by way of submission of any document by the assessee or any other person or where an opportunity of being heard is to be provided to the assessee, the order giving effect to the said order under section 250 or section 254 or section 260 or section 262 or section 263 or section 264 shall be made within the time specified in sub-section (3).]

Notes:

1 Substituted by the Finance Act, Finance Act, 2017 

Substituted Word

 'and interest'

The word shall be subsitituted

'interest and fee'

2  Substituted by the Finance Act, Finance Act, 2017 

Substituted Word

 'and interest'

The word shall be subsitituted

'interest and fee'

3  Substituted by the Finance Act, Finance Act, 2017 

Substituted Word

 'and interest'

The word shall be subsitituted

'interest and fee'

4 Substituted by the Finance Act, Finance Act, 2017 

Substituted Word

 'and interest'

The word shall be subsitituted

'interest and fee'

5. Inserted by the, Finance Act, 2017  w.e.f 01/06/2016

6. Inserted by the, Finance Act, 2017  w.e.f 01/06/2016

7  Inserted by the Finance Act, 2018, w.e.f. 1-4-2018. 

8  Sub-sections (3A) to (3C) inserted by the Finance Act, 2018, w.e.f. 1-4-2018.

9. Inserted by The Finance Act, 2019 w.e.f. 01.04.2007

10. Inserted by The Finance Act, 2020 .

11. Substituted by the Finance Act, 2020   .

In section 143, in sub-section (3B), in the proviso, for the figures, letters and words;

31st day of March, 2020

the following shall be substituted namely;

31st day of March, 2022

12. Substituted by Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 w.e.f 01.04.2021 Notification dated 29.09.2020

Substituted Word in sub-section (3B), in the proviso, For the figure

2022

The following shall be substituted namely;

2021

13. Inserted by Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 w.e.f 01.04.2021 Notification dated 29.09.2020

14 Substituted by The Finance Act 2021dated 28.03.2021 w.e.f 01.04.2021

Substituted Word in the second proviso,

“one year”

The following shall be substituted namely;

 “nine months”

15 Substituted by The Finance Act 2021dated 28.03.2021 w.e.f 01.04.2021

Substituted Word in sub-clause (iv),

“disallowance of expenditure indicated”

The following shall be substituted namely;

"disallowance of expenditure or increase in income indicated"

16 Substituted by The Finance Act 2021dated 28.03.2021 w.e.f 01.04.2021

Substituted Word in sub-clause (v), for the words,

 " sections 10AA80-IA80-IAB80-IB80-IC80-ID or section 80-IE, if "

The following shall be substituted namely;

‘section 10AA or under any of the provisions of Chapter VI-A under the heading “C.-Deductions in respect of certain incomes”, if’

17Substituted by The Finance Act 2021dated 28.03.2021 w.e.f 01.04.2021

Substituted Word in sub-section (2), in the proviso,

“six”

The word shall be substituted by -

 “three"

18. Substituted by Finance Act, 2022 dated 30.03.2022 w.e.f 01.04.2022.

Substituted Word in sub-section (3), forthe proviso,

Provided that in the case of a—

(a) research association referred to in clause (21) of section 10;

(b) news agency referred to in clause (22B) of section 10;

(c) association or institution referred to in clause (23A) of section 10;

(d) institution referred to in clause (23B) of section 10;

(e) fund or institution referred to in sub-clause (iv) or trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (v) or any university or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (vi) or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (via) of clause (23C) of section 10,

which is required to furnish the return of income under sub-section (4C) of section 139, no order making an assessment of the total income or loss of such research association, news agency, association or institution or fund or trust or university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution, shall be made by the Assessing Officer, without giving effect to the provisions of section 10, unless—

(i) the Assessing Officer has intimated the Central Government or the prescribed authority the contravention of the provisions of clause (21) or clause (22B) or clause (23A) or clause (23B) or sub-clause (iv) or sub-clause (v) or sub-clause (vi) or sub-clause (via) of clause (23C) of section 10, as the case may be, by such research association, news agency, association or institution or fund or trust or university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution, where in his view such contravention has taken place; and

 (ii) the approval granted to such research association or other association or fund or trust or institution or university or other educational institution or hospital or other medical institution has been withdrawn or notification issued in respect of such news agency or fund or trust or institution has been rescinded

the following shall be substituted-

Provided that in the case of a—

(a) research association referred to in clause (21) of  section 10;;

(b) news agency referred to in clause (22B) of  section 10;;

(c) association or institution referred to in clause (23A) of  section 10;;

(d) institution referred to in clause (23B) of  section 10;,

which is required to furnish the return of income under sub-section (4C) of section 139, no order making an assessment of the total income or loss of such research association, news agency, association or institution, shall be made by the Assessing Officer, without giving effect to the provisions of  section 10;, unless—

(i) the Assessing Officer has intimated the Central Government or the prescribed authority the contravention of the provisions of clause (21) or clause (22B) or clause (23A) or clause (23B), as the case may be, by such research association, news agency, association or institution, where in his view such contravention has taken place; and

(ii) the approval granted to such research association or other association or institution has been withdrawn or notification issued in respect of such news agency or association or institution has been rescinded:

19.Substituted by Finance Act, 2022 dated 30.03.2022 w.e.f 01.04.2022.

Substituted Word in sub-section (3),for the proviso-

Provided further that where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that the activities of the university, college or other institution referred to in clause (ii) and clause (iii) of sub-section (1) of section 35 are not being carried out in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which such university, college or other institution was approved, he may, after giving a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the proposed withdrawal to the concerned university, college or other institution, recommend to the Central Government to withdraw the approval and that Government may by order, withdraw the approval and forward a copy of the order to the concerned university, college or other institution and the Assessing Officer: 

the following shall be substituted-

Provided further that where the Assessing Officer is satisfied that any fund or institution referred to in subclause (iv) or trust or institution referred to in sub-clause (v) or any university or other educational institution referred to in sub-clause (vi) or any hospital or other medical institution referred to in sub-clause (via), of clause (23C) of  section 10, or any trust or institution referred to in section 11, has committed any specified violation as defined in Explanation 2 to the fifteenth proviso to clause (23C) of  section 10 or the Explanation to sub-section (4) ofsection 12AB, as the case may be, he shall–

(a) send a reference to the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner to withdraw the approval or registration, as the case may be; and

(b) no order making an assessment of the total ncome or loss of such fund or institution or trust or any university or other educational institution or any hospital or other medical institution shall be made byhim without giving effect to the order passed by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the fifteenth proviso to

clause (23C) of  section 10 or clause (ii) or clause (iii) of sub-section (4) of section 12AB: Provided also

20.Omited by Finance Act, 2022 dated 30.03.2022 w.e.f 01.04.2022.