Income tax (I-T) department has started screening the tax audit reports filed by chartered accountants with a view to check fake membership numbers, membership numbers which exceeded the specified number (ceiling) of tax audit assignments etc.

Official sources said the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ( ICAI) had represented before Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) seeking tax audit data based on returns e-filed during the year 2010-11. The CBDT, however, provided with the data relating to the number of tax audits conducted by the members along with the membership numbers of the tax auditors. As per the data provided, the total number of tax audit returns filed in respect of the financial year 2010-11 was 16.16 lakh which were conducted by 59,472 auditors in the country. However, the data provided was further processed with regard to checking fake membership numbers in order to prevent the misuse.

Sources said over 5000 tax audit reports e-filed during the year 2010-11 were found to be processed on fake membership numbers and the membership numbers that exceeded the specified number of tax audit assignments across the country. (Times of India)