Govt makes tax dispute resolution scheme attractive, expands scope

Cabinet approves changes to include litigation across forums

Making the direct tax dispute resolution scheme attractive, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday expanded its scope to cover litigation pending in arbitration forums and debt recovery tribunals (DRTs). The scheme will also include cases related to revision and small-value search disputes. 

The Cabinet also reduced the disputed amount by half for those assessees who got favourable orders but the income-tax department challenged those. 

The move comes a week after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020, in the Lok Sabha to resolve disputed tax cases, amounting to Rs 9.3 trillion, giving effect to the Budget announcement.

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