The Central Board of Direct Taxes has vide Press Release dated 6.07.2016 (For copy click here) clarified that the Income Computation & Disclosure Standards shall be applicable from 1.4.2016 i.e. previous year 2016-17 (Assessment Year 2017-18). 

It is pertinent to inform that the Direct Taxes Committee of ICAI made detailed representation to Central Board of Direct Taxes during the Direct Tax Workshop with CBDT which was followed by written representation to Chairman, CBDT on 31.03.2016 and Hon’ble Finance Minister, on 7.04.2016 for deferment of implementation of ICDS (For copy click here). On invitation by CBDT subsequently, the ICAI representatives met Joint Secretary (TPL-I) and Director (TPL-III) at North Block, New Delhi on 18th April, 2016 and 27th April, 2016 and made detailed presentation on difficulties that would be faced by stakeholders on implementation of ICDS. The representations made by ICAI were considered positively by the Expert Committee on ICDS in meeting held on 12.05.2016 and ICAI was asked to prepare detailed FAQs and amendments to ICDS which were submitted on 20.05.2016 (For copy click here). 

The CBDT officials agreed to most of ICAI’s recommendations and also agreed to bring out clarifications by way of issuing FAQ’s and amendments in ICDS. However, in view of delay in redressal of issues in ICDS, pending notification of FAQs and non revision of tax audit report formats, it was requested to Finance Minister that implementation of ICDS and notification of revised tax audit report formats be postponed vide meeting and letter dated 28.06.2016 (For copy click here). 

We are thankful to the Government for favourably responding to the concerns of the stakeholders that were put forward by ICAI and deferring of applicability of ICDS by one year.