CAG pulls up CAs for incorrect income tax information

Coming down heavily on Chartered Accountants hired by the Income Tax department, a CAG report today said their failure to submit correct tax information resulted in levying of lower taxes by as much as Rs 2,813.11 crore in 367 cases surveyed. 

"We found cases where the CAs failed to report full and correct information in 367 cases leading to short levy of taxes of Rs 2,813.11 crore and where the Assessment Officers failed to utilise the information available in 102 reports or certificates submitted to them leading to short levy of taxes of Rs 1,310.05 crore," said the report of the official auditor. 

"We also found in another 616 cases where CAs committed mistakes viz in allowance of exemption or deductions, charging of tax on book profit under Section 115JB, adoption of arm's length price and reporting on cash payments exceeding Rs 20,000 per day," it said. 

The performance audit covered assessments completed during the period from financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13 and up to the date of audit. 

In case of major audit observations, it said assessment records of previous assessment years (AYs) were also linked wherever found necessary. 

"We found that 18.87 per cent of CAs (12,435 CAs) for 2013-14 issued more tax audit reports than prescribed by ICAI. We also got cases where CAs did not mention their membership numbers," it said. 

Income tax department did not refer any case for professional negligence to ICAI for taking action against erring CAs, it said. 

The report also said that CAs failed to give correct information relating to allowance of depreciation in 66 cases involving short levy of tax of Rs 457.79 crore 

Tax auditors did not report correct information regarding brought forward loss or depreciation resulting in irregular brought forward loss or depreciation allowance in 46 cases involving short levy of tax of Rs 557.79 crore, it said. 

"We have also commented on lacunae in the existing (tax) forms which need modification in order to capture full information of the affairs of assessees so that taxes are applied correctly," it said. 

The CAs are regarded as facilitators for the Income Tax Department in administering the provisions of the The Income Tax Act, 1961 correctly. 

The tax audit reports (TARs) or certificates issued by them serve as a valuable reference guide to the Assessing Officers (AOs) while making assessments. (PTI - Times of India)