CBDT clarification on various provisions of Income-tax Act for reducing litigation / compliance burden

CBDT clarifications on various provisions of the Income-tax Act for reducing litigation and easing burden of compliance

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes

PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 3rd March, 2016

Sub: Decision’s of CBDT clarifying various provisions of the Income-tax Act for reducing litigation and easing burden of compliance – regarding.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has taken a number of decisions to clarify the applicability of various provisions of the Income-tax Act with the objective of easing the burden of compliance and reducing litigation.

It has been clarified through Circular No. 1/2016 that under section 80IA the eligible assessee has the option of choosing the initial year from which the deduction can be claimed. Once the assessee has exercised the option of choosing the initial year, he shall be entitled to the deduction under the section from such year if he fulfills the conditions prescribed in the section.

On the issue of consideration received on buyback of shares between the period 01.04.2000 to 31.05.2013, it has been clarified that such consideration will be taxed as capital gains in the hands of the recipient. Such amount will therefore not be treated as dividend (Circular No.3/2016). No fresh notice will be issued by the Department on this matter.

Circular No. 6 has been issued enunciating the principles regarding treatment of income derived from transfer of shares and securities as capital gains or business income. The Circular clarifies the situations in which the surplus generated on sale of shares and securities will be treated as business income or capital gains.

A letter has been issue to all Pr. Chief Commissioners of Income Tax/ Directors General of Income Tax for removal of difficulties in payment of taxes in Joint Development Agreement cases. CBDT has issued directions that the jurisdictional tax authorities may allow the taxpayer concerned to pay the taxes due on such capital gains in three equal annual installments, subject to levy of interest as per provisions of the Act.

The Circulars are available on the website of the Department at www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

(Shefali Shah)
Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax
(Media and Technical Policy)
and Official Spokesperson, CBDT

• Empanelment of ICAI Exam observer for January 2027 Examinations. Last date: 20.11.2026
• No arrest under GST- Major decision of 57th Meeting of GST Council held on 8th October 2026
• Later SC ruling cannot render an act done in compliance of a court order a statutory default
• Interest payment on mobilisation advance to NHAI not liable to TDS u/s 194A
• Typographical error in turnover accepted during assessment not a mistake apparent from record

addition u/s 68 addition u/s 69A ca misconduct cash deposit in bank cbdt circular CBDT Instruction cbdt notification cbdt order cbdt press release cgst circular cgst notification cit revision 263 concealment penalty condonation of delay covid-19 custom circular demonetisation due date extension e-way bill faq GST circular GST Council Meeting gst faq gstn advisory GSTR-3B GST rates IBBI ibc icai announcement income tax penalty itat ITAT Delhi mca circular MCA notification penalty 271(1)(c) penalty u/s 271(1)(c) Press Release reasons recorded reopening 148 Reopening us 147 Search & Seizure sebi circular unexplained cash credits validity of notice u/s 148 Withdrawal of 2000 500 Bank Notes