Draft Model GST Law 2016-Chartered accountant, cost accountant, company secretary provisions for audit, appearance as authorised representative etc.

Draft Model GST Law 2016 – chartered accountant, cost accountant, company secretary provisions for audit, appearance as authorised representative etc.

Finance Minster has released Draft Model GST Law 2016. The various provisions of the Draft Law concerning CAs, CMAs, and CS are reproduced hereunder.

2. Definitions

2(23) “chartered accountant” means a chartered accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (38 of 1949);

42. Accounts and other records

42(4) Every registered taxable person whose turnover during a financial year exceeds the prescribed limit shall get his accounts audited by a chartered accountant or a cost accountant and shall submit to the proper officer a copy of the audited statement of accounts, the reconciliation statement under sub-section (2) of section 30 and such other documents in the form and manner as may be prescribed in this behalf.

50. Special audit

50(1) If at any stage of scrutiny, enquiry, investigation or any other proceedings before him, any officer not below the rank of [Deputy/Assistant Commissioner] having regard to the nature and complexity of the case and the interest of revenue, is of the opinion that the value has not been correctly declared or the credit availed is not within the normal limits, he may, with the prior approval of the [Commissioner], direct such taxable person by notice in writing to get his records including books of account examined and audited by a chartered accountant or a cost accountant as may be nominated by the [Commissioner] in this behalf.

(2) The chartered accountant or cost accountant so nominated shall, within the period of ninety days, submit a report of such audit duly signed and certified by him to the said [Deputy/Assistant Commissioner] mentioning therein such other particulars as may be specified:

Provided that the proper officer may, on an application made to him in this behalf by the taxable person or the chartered accountant or cost accountant or for any material and sufficient reason, extend the said period by another ninety days.

(5) The expenses of, and incidental to, the examination and audit of records under sub-section (1), including the remuneration of such chartered accountant or cost accountant, shall be determined and paid by the [Commissioner] and that such determination shall be final.

64. Access to business premises

64(2) Every person in charge of premises referred to in sub-section (1) shall, on demand, make available to the officer authorized under sub-section (1) or the audit party deputed by the Additional/Joint Commissioner of CGST or SGST or the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or a cost accountant or chartered accountant nominated under section 50, as the case may be,-

for the scrutiny of the officer or audit party or the cost accountant or chartered accountant, as the case may be, within a reasonable time, not exceeding fifteen working days from the day when such demand is made, or such further period as may be allowed by the said officer or the audit party or the cost accountant or chartered accountant, as the case may be.

86 Appearance by authorised representative

86(1) Any person who is entitled or required to appear before a GST Officer appointed under this Act, or the First Appellate Authority or the Appellate Tribunal in connection with any proceedings under the Act, may, otherwise than when required under this Act to appear personally for examination on oath or affirmation, subject to the other provisions of this section, appear by an authorized representative.

(2) For the purposes of this section, “authorised representative” means a person authorised by the person referred to in sub-section (1) to appear on his behalf, being —

(a)
(b)
(c) any chartered accountant, a cost accountant or a company secretary, who holds a valid certificate of practice and who has not been debarred from practice; or

126. Disclosure of information by a public servant

(4) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to the disclosure of,-

(i) any such particulars relevant to any inquiry into a charge of misconduct in connection with any proceedings under the Act against a practising advocate, tax practitioner, a practising cost accountant, a practising chartered accountant, a practising company secretary to the authority empowered to take disciplinary action against the members practising the profession of a legal practitioner, cost accountant, chartered accountant or company secretary, as the case may be; or