Assessment of Tax

Types of Assessment under GST

• Self-assessment
• Provisional assessment
• Scrutiny assessment
• Best judgment assessment
•  Assessment of non-filers of returns
•  Assessment of unregistered persons
• Summary assessment

Only self-assessment is done by the taxpayer himself. All the other assessments are by tax authorities.

Self-Assessment

Every registered taxable person shall himself assess the taxes payable and furnish a return for each tax period. This means GST continues to promote self-assessment just like the Excise, VAT and Service Tax under current tax regime.

Provisional Assessment

An assessee can request the officer for provisional assessment if he is unable to determine value or rate.

Unable to determine value due to difficulty in:

• Calculating the transaction value
• Understanding whether certain receipts should be included or not

Unable to determine rate of tax due to difficulty in:

• Classifying the goods/services
• Identifying whether any notification is applicable or not

Provisions of Provisional Assessment

• Requests for provisional assessments will be given in writing
• The proper officer can allow paying tax on provisional basis at a rate or on a value specified by him.
• Order will be passed within 90 days from date of request.
• The taxable person has to issue a bond with a security promising to pay the difference between provisionally assessed tax and final assessed tax.
• Provisional assessments will be followed by final assessments. The proper officer can ask for information before final assessment.

Time Limit for Final Assessments

The final assessment will be done within 6 months of the provisional assessment. This can be extended for 6 months by the Joint/Additional Commissioner. However, the Commissioner can extend it for further 4 years as he seems fit.