9th Revised Background Material on GST Volume-II: ICAI
Table of Contents
9th Revised Background Material on GST Volume-II: ICAI
Chapter 12 Assessment
| Sections
59. Self-assessment 60. Provisional assessment 61. Scrutiny of returns 62. Assessment of non-filers of returns 63. Assessment of unregistered persons 64. Summary assessment in certain special cases |
Rules
98. Provisional Assessment 99. Scrutiny of returns 100. Assessment in certain cases |
Statutory Provisions
59. Self-assessment
Every registered taxable person shall self-assess the taxes payable under this Act and furnish a return for each tax period as specified under Section 39.
Related provisions of the Statute
| Section or Rule | Description |
| Section 2(94) | Definition of Registered Person |
| Section 2(97) | Definition of Return |
| Section 39 | Furnishing of returns |
| Chapter VIII of the CGST Rules, 2017 | Returns |
59.1 Introduction
In terms of Section 2(11) of the Act, “assessment” means a determination of tax liability under this Act and includes self-assessment, re-assessment, provisional assessment, summary assessment, and best judgement assessment. It is important to note that there is no provision permitting a Proper Officer to re-assess the tax liability of taxable persons. The provisions of the law permit a registered person to rectify any incorrect particulars furnished in the returns. In terms of Section 39(9), if a registered person discovers any omission or incorrect particulars furnished in a return, he is required to rectify such omission or incorrect particulars in the return to be furnished for the tax period during which such omission or incorrect particulars as are noticed (on payment of due interest), unless the same is as a result of scrutiny, audit, inspection or enforcement activity by the tax authorities, or such rectification is time-barred (i.e., after the due date for furnishing of return for the month of September or second quarter following the end of the financial year, or the actual date of furnishing of relevant annual return, whichever is earlier). As such, reference to such re-assessment in the definition may have to be suitably read down.
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It is normally understood that an Assessment is conducted by a proper officer. In terms of Section 2(91) of the CGST Act, 2017, a “proper officer” in relation to any function to be performed under this Act, means the Commissioner or the officer of the central tax who is assigned that function by the Commissioner in the Board;
The CGST Act contemplates the following types of Assessments:
- Self-assessment (Section 59)
- Provisional Assessment (Section 60)
- Scrutiny of returns filed by registered taxable persons (Section 61 )
- Assessment of non-filers of returns (Section 62)
- Assessment of unregistered persons (Section 63)
- Summary Assessment in certain special cases (Section 64)
(i) Self-assessment in terms of Section 59 refers to the assessment made by the registered person himself/itself while all other assessments are undertaken by tax authorities.
(ii) Provisional Assessment under Section 60 is an assessment undertaken at the instance of the registered person. Provisional Assessment is followed by a final Assessment.
(iii) Scrutiny Assessment under section 61 is a form of re-assessment (since the selfassessment is made by the registered person himself/itself). Scrutiny of returns conducted by the proper officer who checks for the correctness of the returns filed and intimates the registered person of any discrepancies noticed.
(iv) Assessment of non-filers u/s 62 and Assessment of un-registered person u/s 63 are in the nature of best judgement assessments.
(v) Summary Assessment under Section 64 is a form of protective assessment based on information gathered from the tax authorities in a particular case.
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9th Revised Background Material on GST Volume-I: ICAI
59.2 Analysis
Self-assessment means an assessment by the registered person himself and not an assessment conducted or carried out by the Proper Officer. The GST regime continues to promote the scheme of self-assessment. Hence, every registered person would be required to assess his tax dues in accordance with the provisions of the GST Act and report the basis of calculation of tax dues to the tax administrators, by filing periodic tax returns.
The provisions of the law permit a registered person to rectify any incorrect particulars furnished in the returns. In terms of Section 39(9), if a registered person discovers any omission or incorrect particulars furnished in a return, he is required to rectify such omission or incorrect particulars in the return to be furnished for the tax period during which such omission or incorrect particulars are noticed (on payment of due interest) unless the same is as a result of scrutiny, audit, inspection or enforcement activity by the tax authorities, or such rectification is time-barred (i.e., after the due date for furnishing of return for the month of September or second quarter following the end of the financial year, or the actual date of furnishing of relevant annual return, whichever is earlier). Further, Para 4 of Circular No. 26/2017 dated 29.12.17, clarifies that in case of summary returns like GSTR-3B, where there are no separate tables for reflecting tax effects of amendments for past periods are available, the figures pertaining to the current month can be adjusted for past month amendments, so long as the amount is not negative. These provisions exhort the concept of self-assessment.
It is important to note that ‘self-assessment’ does not confer the authority of an assessing officer (called Proper Officer) on the taxpayer. The taxpayer must exercise this liberty to assess tax liability voluntarily with the perils of interest and penalty for any miscalculations or misinterpretations without usurping the role of Proper Officer.
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