ITR Processing within prescribed time and withholding refund. Section 143(1D)not to apply to return filed for AY 2017-18 onwards

ITR Processing within prescribed time and withholding refund. Section 143(1D)not to apply to return filed for AY 2017-18 onwards

Budget 2017-18 : Processing of return within the prescribed time and enable withholding of refund in certain cases

The provisions of sub-section (1D) of section 143 provide that the processing of a return shall not be necessary, where a notice has been issued to the assessee under sub-section (2) of the said section. Amendment to the said sub-section brought by Finance Act, 2016 provides that with effect from assessment year 2017-18, processing under section 143(1) is to be done before passing of assessment order.

In order to address the grievance of delay in issuance of refund in genuine cases which are routinely selected for scrutiny assessment, it is proposed that provisions of section 143(1D) shall cease to apply in respect of returns furnished for assessment year 2017-18 and onwards.

However, to address the concern of recovery of revenue in doubtful cases, it is proposed to insert a new section 241A to provide that, for the returns furnished for assessment year commencing on or after 1st April, 2017, where refund of any amount becomes due to the assessee under section 143(1) and the Assessing Officer is of the opinion that grant of refund may adversely affect the recovery of revenue, he may, for the reasons recorded in writing and with the previous approval of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner, withhold the refund upto the date on which the assessment is made.

These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply to returns furnished for assessment year 2017-18 and subsequent years.