To
All Pr. Chief-Commissioners of Income-tax/Chief-Commissioners of Income-tax
All Pr. Directors-General of Income-tax/Directors-General of Income-tax
Subject – Issuing Questionnaire in cases selected for scrutiny- regarding
Sir/Madam
Instances have come to the notice of the Board that in cases selected under scrutiny, while issuing the first notice, Assessing Officers do not convey the specific compliance requirements like production of accounts, furnishing of documents, information, evidences, submission of other requisite particulars etc. Since the taxpayers or their authorized representatives are required to comply with the statutory notice issued by the Assessing Officer, they remain clueless about the information required to be submitted and their appearance before the Assessing Officer does not serve any fruitful purpose except recording of their presence. This causes undue hardship to the taxpayers and unnecessary wastage of their time.

2. Since the CASS cycles are proposed to be run well in advance now, sufficient time shall be available with the Assessing Officers to go through the returns of income which have been selected for scrutiny and identify the issues which require examination. Therefore, in cases selected for scrutiny, it should be the endeavour of the Assessing Officer that the initial notice issued under section 143(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 is accompany a notice under section 142(1) along with the questionnaire containing details of specific documents/information/evidences etc. that are required to be furnished by the taxpayer in connection with scrutiny assessment proceeding in their respective case.
3. All the Assessing Officers are required to comply with the above directions.