[7. Assessment and collection of tax.-(1) The amount of tax due from an employer liable to pay tax shall be assessed separately for each year:
Provided that, the commissioner may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed and for reasons to be recorded in writing, assess the tax due from any employer for a part of a year:
Provided further that, when an employer has failed to furnish, by the prescribed date, any return relating to any period in any year, the Commissioner may, if he thinks fit, assess the tax due from such employer separately for different parts of such year.
(2) The Commissioner on being satisfied that, the returns furnished by an employer in respect of any period are correct and complete, he shall assess the amount of tax due from the employer on the basis of such returns:
Provided that, the Commissioner on not being satisfied that the returns furnished by the employer in respect of any period are correct and complete, and he is of the opinion that it is necessary to require the presence of the employer or the production of further evidence in that respect, he shall serve on such employer, in the prescribed manner, a notice requiring such employer on a date and at a place specified in the notice, either to attend and produce or cause to be produced all the evidence on which such employer has relied in support of his returns, or to produce such evidence as is specified in the notice. On the date specified in the notice, or as soon as may be thereafter, the Commissioner shall, after considering all the evidence produced, assess the amount of tax due from the employer:
Provided further that, if the employer fails to comply with any of the directions or requirements specified in the notice issued under the above proviso, the Commissioner may, assess, the amount of tax due from the employer on the basis of the record available before him.
(3) Where all the returns are filed by the employer for any year starting on or after the1st April 2004 within one month from the end of the year to which such returns relate, no order of assessment under the provisos to sub-section (2) in respect of that year shall be made after the expiry of three years from the end of the said year; and if for any reason such order is not made within the period aforesaid, then the returns so filed shall be deemed to have been accepted as correct and complete for assessing the tax due from such employer:
Provided that, in the case of returns pertaining to the years ending on or before the 31st March 2004, and filed on or before the 30th September 2004, no order of assessment shall be made under the provisos to sub-section (2) on or after the [1st April 2008]:
Provided further that, where a fresh assessment has to be made to give effect to any finding or direction contained in any order made under this Act, or to any order of the Tribunal or Court, Such assessment shall be made within thirty-six months from the date of communication to the Commissioner of such finding, direction or order, as the case may be: