• ~ ----l~egistered THE ASSAM GAZETTE ~~'1 EXTRAORDINARY w~ ~'1'=11 ~ ~~ PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY ~~ I 03 ~9;[ 1", 1 ~, 17 C"l, 2000, 27 ~'it. 1922 (~<:!\") 1 No. 103 Dispur. Wednesday. 17th May. 2000. 27th vaisakha, 1922 (S.E.J GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM ORDERS BY THE GOVERNOR .
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT : : LEGISLATIVE BRANCH NOTIFICATION The 17th May, 2000 No. LGL.152/99/20.--The · following Act of the Assam . Legislative Assembly which received the assent of the Governor is hereby puhlishcd for general information.
298 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2000 ASSAM ACT NO. VII OF 2000 (Received the assent of the Governor on 12th May, 2000) THE ASSAM TAXATION (SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES) ' ACT, 2000 AN ACT to provide for expeditious settlement of disputes in respect or arrear tax, penalty or interest and expeditious payment thereof under the relevant Acts relating to sales tax, entertainment tax, tax on luxury, tax on specified land and agricultural income by way or settlement of such disputes on a one time basis and the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Whereas it is expedient to provide for settlement of Assam Act No.
cl . cl f' · · I XII of 199J, 1sputcs an en orcement ot payment ol arrear tax, pena ty central Ac1 74 or interest, as the case may be under the Assam General of 195<>, Assmn S. l · T· A 199-i 1 C ., l S· l · T· A 195'- h Aet No. VI of d es ax ct, .J, t 1e ent1 a d es dX ct. o, t e I 'J39. Assam Assam Amusement and Betting Tax Act, 1939. The Al'I No. v or A T L · H 1 ~ cl L d . H 1989, Ass:tm ssam ax on uxunes ( ote s an o g111g ouses) Aet No. , . 111 or Act, 1989, the Assam Taxation (on Luxuries) Act, 1997, 1997. Assam h A T . S .f .. d L I A 1990 h Al'! No. XII of t e ssam axation (on pec1 1e anc s) ct, , t e l'190. Assam Assam Agricultural Income Tax Act. 1939 and other .r\ct No. ix or 1 d f, cl · · · · Jl).~9 and ..\ssam repea c Acts re erre to 111 sub-section ( 1) of· Section 74 Act No. x11 or of the Assam General Sales Tax Act, 1993. 1 9._?3 ' rcspel'tivl'I~' Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Assam in the Fifty first Year of the Republic of India as follows :- Short title , extent and commencement.
L>dinitions.
l. (I) This Act may be called the Assam Taxation (Settlement of Disputes) Act, 2000.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Assam.
(3) ft shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
2. (I) 111' this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "applicant''. means a dealer, a proprietor. a hotelier, an owner, a stockist or an assessee as defined in the relevant Act and includes legal heirs.
successors, assignees or nominees of such dealer. proprietor~hotelier, owner, stockist or an assessee ;
(b) "arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute" means, - •, . ' THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2000 299
(i) tax, by whatever name called, including additional tax, if any payable by an applicant upon assessment under the relevant act, or
(ii) penalty payable hy an applicant under the relevant Act, or
(iii) interest payable hy an applicant under the relevant Act, which, as the case may be, is in dispute in any appeal or revision pending before the appellate authority or revisional authority including the Assam Board of Revenue, the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court of India on the 31st day of March, 2000 under the relevant Act;
Explanation :- The amount of arrear tax, penalty or interest which, though included in the appeal petition or the revision petition, is not actually in disputes shall be excluded for the purpose of calculating the arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute.
(c) "designated authority" means the authority appointed under section 3 to receive the application for settlement of dispute and to dispose of the same ;
(d) "notified authority" means the authority appointed under section 3 to perform the functions under sub-section (3) and sub-section ( 4) of section 8 ;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
(f) "relevant Act" means any one or more of the following Acts :-
(i) the Assam General Sales Tax Act, 1993 (Assam Act No. XII of 1993 ).
(ii) the Central Sales Tax Act, 1956 (Central Act 74 of 1956).
(iii) the Assam Amusements and Betting Tax Act, 1939 (Assam Act No. VI of 1939), 300 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY. MAY 17. 2000
(iv) the Assam Tax on Luxuries (Hotels a1i6 Lodging Houses) Act, 1989 (Assam Act No. V of 1989), Dcsignall'd authority and notified authority.
Eligihil it .v for scltlcml0 nt .
(v) the Assam Taxation (on Luxuries) Act. 1997 (Assam Act No. VIIT of 1997),
(vi) the Assam Taxation (on Specified Lands) Act, 1990 (Assam Act No. XII of 1990),
(vii) the Assam Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1939 (Assam Act No. IX of 1939),
(viii) the repealed Acts as mentioned in sub-section ( 1) of section 74 of the Assam General Sales Tax Act, 1993 (Assam Act No. XII of 1993) and includes the rules made, or notifications issued under the Acts referred to in sub-clauses (i), (ii) , (iii), (iv), (v),
(vi), (vii) and (viii) above.
(2) Unless there is anything repungnant in the subject or contexts , all expressions used in this Act, which are not defined in this Act but defined in the relevant Act, or used in the relevant Act. shall have the same meaning as in the relevant Act.
3. For carrying out the purposes of this Act, the State Government may , by notification published in the Official Gazette appoint one or more authorities, referred to section 3 of the Assam General Sales Tax Act , 1993 to be the designated authority and the notified Assam Art authority and such authorities shall exercise No. x11 or I 99J.
jurisdiction over such area or areas as the State Government may specify in the notification .
4. ( 1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act , an applicant shal·I be eligible to make an application for settlement or arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute in respect of any period for which an assessment has been made under the relevant Act and an appeal or revision relating thereto is pending on the 31st March, 2000, before any appellate authority or revisional authority. or any other authority as the case may be :
Provided that where an applicant has filed a writ petition or appeal or reference or revision before the Assam ;
• THEASSAMGAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2000 301 Application settlement.
Board of Revenue, the Gauhati High Court or the Supreme Court against any order in respect of the arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute, the applicant shall file an application before such Board, High Court or Supreme Court, as the case may be. for withdrawing such writ petition. appeal, reference or revision and after withdrawal of such writ petition, appeal, reference or revision, as the case may be.
with the leave of the Court, the applicant shall be eligible to make an application for settlement under this Act by furnishing proof of such withdrawal.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in suh-section ( l ), an applicant shall not be eligible to make an application for settlement of arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute in respect of any period under the relevant Act for which the appeal or revision has been finally heard by the appellate authority or the revisional authority , as the case may be.
Explanation :- For the purpose of this suh-section, no appeal or revision shall be deemed to have been heard only by reason of any stay order having been passed by any appellate authority or revisional authority in connection with such appeal or revision .
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (I), an applicant shall not be eligible to make an application for settlement where prosecution for any offence punishable under any provision of the relevant Act has been instituted in respect of any arrear tax. penalty or interest in dispute.
Explanation :- The prosecution h~ts been instituted implies that the prosecution is pending before the Court. A mere show-cause notice shall not debar an applicant from making an application for settlement under this Act.
for 5. (I) An. application for the purpose of Section 4 shall be made to the designated authority by an applicant in such form, and in such manner, as may be prescribed. on or before the 3 lst day of July, 2000 or by such later date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette; specify frotn time to time:
(2) Separate applications shall he made by an applicant for different periods under each of the relevant Acts.
(3) The applicant shall send a copy of the application made under sub-section (I) to the appellate authority or the 302 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, '.WOO revisional authority before whom the appeal or revision , a.t- the case may he, is pending, within seven days rrom the date of making such application before the designated authority.
Ul'lcrmination of' mnount pa~-,1hlc h~· the applicant.
6 . ( l) The designated authority shall, ordinarily within sixty clays from the date or receipt or an application referred to in Section 5, verify the correctness or thc particulars furnished in such an application with reference to the connected records aYailahle with the assessing authority, appellate authority or any other authority, as the case may be.
(2) Where the designated authority is satisfied about the correctness of the particulars set forth in the application made by an applicant, he shall determine, by an order in writing , the amount payable by the applicant for the purpose of settlement of arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute at the rate specified in section 7 :
Provided that while determining the amount payable by the applicant for the purpose of settlement of arrear tax, penalty o.r interest in dispute, the designated authority shall take into account any aniount of arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute paid by the applicant before making an application under Section 5 and deduct the amount so paid by him from the amount determined as payable hy the applicant under this sub-section :
Provided further that the amount payable by an applicant as determined under this sub-section shall be rounded off to the nearest rupee and, for this purpose , where such amount contains a part of a rupee, then, if such part is fifty paise or more, it shall be rounded off to a rupee, and if such part is less than fifty paise , it shall be ignored.
(3) After the amount payable hy an applicant is determined under sub-section (2), the designated authority shall, subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed, require the applicant, by a notice in such form as may be prescribed, to pay the amount so determined under sub-section (2) within thirty days from the date of receipt of such notice by the applicant or within such further time as may be prescribed.
(4) The applicant shall pay in one instalment, the sum determined by the designated authority as per the terms of the notice and intimate the fact of such payment to the • THE ASSAM GAZETTE. EXTRAORDINARY. MAY 17. 2000 3W Rate applicahll' in determining the amount pa~"' h I c.
Sl'ltlcmcnt of clbputc and issue of t·crtifi l'att.• of sdt ll'llll' llt.
designated authority within fifteen days of making such payment together with a copy or duly receipted challan showing. payment of the amount specified in the not ice issued under sub-section (3 l.
(5) The al1lount required LO be paid in terms or the notice issued under sub-section {3) shall be paid in such manner as is specified in the relevant Act or the rules framed thereunder.
7. (I) The amount payable by an applicant for .settlement uf dispute under this Act shall he,
(a) where the dispute relates to any arrear lax. at the rate of fifty percentum of the arrear tax in dispute. or
(b) where the dispute relates to any arrear interest. at the rate of twenty five percentum of the arrear interest in dispute.
(2) The arrear penalty in dispute. if any , shall he waived.
8. (I) The designated authority. on being satisfied about the payment of the amount which the applicant is required to pay by virtue or the notice under sub-section (3) or section 6. shall settle the dispute in respect of which an application has been made under sub-section (I) of section 5 and issue a certificate of settlement for such dispute in such form as may be prescribed, lo the applicant, ordinarily within thirty days or receipt or the copy or duly receipted challan in support of payment made by the applicant and thereupon, such applicant shall be discharged from his liability to make payment of the balance amount of such arrear tax, penalty or interest in dispute :
Provided that where no paymcnf is required to he made by an app I ican t by reason of an adj us tme 11 l as referred to in the first proviso to sub-section (2) or section 6 and no notice is issued lo him under sub-section 3. or section 6 the designated authority shall settle the dispute and issue a certificate for such dispute to such applicant :
Provided further that a certificate or settlement shall be issued hy the designated authority separately in respect of every application made under section 5.
(2) The designated authority. for reasons to be recorded in writing. may refuse to settle a dispute :
304 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2000 Bar on re-opening ol' 'ettled cas<·s.
\\ ' ithdrawal ol' appeal and rt·,. is ion.
Appl'ilall" authoritv and rt' vis i c1 ii a I authorit \' not to p ro<'Cl"d · in certain ca~t·~.
Provided that no order refusing to settle a dispute- shall be passed without allowing the applicant a reasonable opportunity or being heard .
Ci) The dc-.,ignatcd authority may at any time within ninety day'> rrom the date or issue of the certificate under sub-section (I), rectify any error apparent on the race or the record:
Provided that no such rectification adversely affecting the applicant shall be passed without allowing the applicant a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(4) (a) the notified authority within ninety days or the order passed by the designated authority may, either or his own motion or on an application by the applicant, call for and examine the records or any proceeding under this Act and may pass such order thereon as it deems fit :
Provided that no such order shall be passed without allowing a reasonable opportunity or being heard to the applicant as well as to the designated authority.
(b) The order passed by the notified authority under this sub-section shall be final and binding on the designated authority as well as on the applicant.
9. Subject to the provisions of sub-section (_',) and sub-section (4) of section 8. a certificate or settlement issued under sub-section (I) of section 8 shall he conclusive as to the dispute to which it relates. and no matter covered by such certificate or settlement shall he rc -opended in any proceeding or appeal or revision, or any other proceeding. under the relevant Act.
I 0. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any provi-.,ion in the relevant Act. the appeal or rcvi-.,ion for any period pending before tl1e appellate authority or the rcvisional authority. as the case may be. other than the Assam Board or Revenue. the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court. in respect of \Vhich a ccrtific1tc or settlement is issued under sub-section (I) or section 8, shall be deemed to ha ve been withdrawn by the aprlic~mt from the date or making or the application by the applicant under sub-section (I) or section).
11. No appellate authority or rcvisiona l authority other than the Assam Board or Revenue, the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court shall proceed to decide any appeal or revision under the relevant Act relating to any period in • .,_ .
THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, MAY 17, 2000 305 !{evocation of l' crlific:1tc of settlement.
Information lo he sent lo the authorities under the relevant Act.
respect or which an application has been made by an applicant under section 5 :
Provided that such authority shall proceed to decide · such appeal or revision for such period in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Act, if a certificate of settlement referred to in sub-section ( 1) of section 8 is refused to the applicant by an order passed by the designated authority in writing under sub-section (2) of section s ·or by the notified authority under sub-section (4) of section 8.
12. ( 1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 9 or section I 0, where it appears to the designated authority that an applicant has obtained the benefit of settlement under this Act by suppressing any material information or particulars or by furnishing any incorrect or false information or particulars, such designated authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing and after giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity or being heard, revoke the certificate of settlement issued under sub-section (I) of section 8.
(2) If a certificate of settlement is revoked under sub-section (I), the appeal or revision, as the case may be, under the relevant Act. covered by s(1ch certificate or settlement, shall, not\vithstanding the provisions of section 9 or section I 0 stand revived or reinstated immediately upon su(:h revocation, and such appeal or revision shall be decided in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Act, as if no settlement of the arrear tax.
penalty or interest in dispute in such appeal or revision has ever bee1i made under this Act :
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply in respect of any case already withdrawn under the proviso to sub-section (I) of section 4 with the leave of the Assam Board of Revenue or the Gauhati High Court or the Supreme Court, as the case may be.
13. The designated authority shall keep the assessing authority, the appellate authority or the revisional authority. who, for the time being. has jurisdiction over the applicant under the relevant Act, informed, inter alia. of the fact of -
(a) making of an application by an applicant under section 5.
1 •!
306 THE ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY. MAY 17. 2000
(b) passing of any order by the designated authorit · .
under section 8. and No refund of amount paid under the Act.
Power of the State c;o\'crn· mcnt lo make rules.
l'owcr to remove difficulties .
(c) revocation of any certificate of settlement under · section 12, in such form and manner, and within such time, as may be prescribed.
14. Any amount paid hy an applicant under section 6 shall not he refundable under any circumstances :
Provided that in the case of rcvoc'ation of a settlement in accordance with section 12 , the amount paid by the applicant' under section 6 shall be treated to have been paid under the relevant Act for the period for which the certificate of settlement has been revoked.
15. The State Government may, hy notification published in the Official Gazette, make rules. with prospective or retrospective effect, for carrying out the purposes ofthis Act, and such rules may provide for all or any of the niatters which, under any provision of this Act, is required to be prescribed or to be provided for by rules.
16. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions of this Act , the State Government may, by order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act , remove the difficulty.
M. K. DEKA, Secretary to the Govt. of Assam.
Legislative Department.
CI UWAHATI- Primed & Published hy the Dy . Director (P). Dirwtorate of Ptg. & Sty ..
Assam . Guwahati (l:x-Ga1cttc) No. 205-500-900- 17-5-2000.
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