Applicability of Income Computation and Disclosure Standards notified u/s 145(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 from Assessment Year 2017-18.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has vide Press Release dated 6.07.2016 clarified that the Income Computation & Disclosure Standards shall be applicable from 1.4.2016 i.e. previous year 2016-17 (Assessment Year 2017-18).
It is pertinent to inform that the Direct Taxes Committee of ICAI made detailed representation to Central Board of Direct Taxes during the Direct Tax Workshop with CBDT which was followed by written representation to Chairman, CBDT on 31.03.2016 and Hon’ble Finance Minister, on 7.04.2016 for deferment of implementation of ICDS. On invitation by CBDT subsequently, the ICAI representatives met Joint Secretary (TPL-I) and Director (TPL-III) at North Block, New Delhi on 18th April, 2016 and 27th April, 2016 and made detailed presentation on difficulties that would be faced by stakeholders on implementation of ICDS. The representations made by ICAI were considered positively by the Expert Committee on ICDS in meeting held on 12.05.2016 and ICAI was asked to prepare detailed FAQs and amendments to ICDS which were submitted on 20.05.2016.
The CBDT officials agreed to most of ICAI’s recommendations and also agreed to bring out clarifications by way of issuing FAQ’s and amendments in ICDS. However, in view of delay in redressal of issues in ICDS, pending notification of FAQs and non revision of tax audit report formats, it was requested to Finance Minister that implementation of ICDS and notification of revised tax audit report formats be postponed vide meeting and letter dated 28.06.2016.
Vide Notification No. SO 892 (E) dated 31st March, 2015, Central Government notified 10 Income Computation and Disclosure Standards (ICDS). These ICDS are applicable from 1.4.2015 i.e. previous year 2015-16 (Assessment Year 2016-17). Subsequent to notification of the ICDS, a number of representations were received which were examined by an Expert Committee. The Committee has recommended amendments to the notified ICDS and also issuance of clarification in respect of certain points raised by the stakeholders.
The revision of ICDS/issue of clarifications as recommended by the Committee, is under consideration. The revision of the Tax Audit Report is also being made for ensuring the compliance with the provisions of ICDS and for capturing the disclosures mandated by the ICDS.
Some of the tax payers might have filed their return of income and obtained Tax Audit Report without incorporating the compliance with the ICDS and related disclosures in the absence of the revised Tax Audit Report. Considering these facts, it has been decided that the ICDS shall be applicable from 1.4.2016 i.e. previous year 2016-17 (Assessment Year 2017- 18).