I. Income Tax Services (Income Tax, Corporate Tax, etc.):
Tax Planning and Advisory: This is a core service, where consultants devise strategies to legally minimize tax liabilities by identifying deductions, exemptions, and incentives. This includes:
Advising on investments to save tax (e.g., ELSS, PPF, ULIPs).
Structuring financial transactions for tax efficiency.
Providing customized tax plans for individuals, businesses, and high-net-worth individuals.
Income Tax Return (ITR) Filing: Assisting individuals, salaried employees, professionals, and businesses with accurate and timely preparation and filing of their income tax returns.
Corporate Tax Services:
Corporate tax planning and compliance for businesses of all sizes.
Advising on the tax implications of mergers & acquisitions.
Ensuring compliance with corporate tax regulations.
Tax Audit Assistance: Representing clients during tax audits by tax authorities, providing necessary documentation, and ensuring a smooth process.
Tax Dispute Resolution & Litigation Support:
Handling tax notices, scrutiny assessments, and appeals.
Representing clients before tax authorities and in tax tribunals/courts.
Providing support in investigation matters (e.g., foreign assets, suspicious transactions).
International Taxation:
Advising on cross-border transactions and investments.
Expatriate tax advisory and compliance services (for individuals working in India or abroad).
Transfer Pricing: Providing support for inter-company transactions for multinational organizations, including documentation, risk assessment, planning, and managing transfer pricing controversy.
Tax Due Diligence: Assessing tax and regulatory risks and opportunities during business transactions.
Advising on specific tax issues: This can include capital gains tax, TDS (Tax Deducted at Source), TCS (Tax Collected at Source), etc.
II. Indirect Tax Services (GST, Customs Duty, etc.):
GST Advisory and Compliance:
Assisting businesses with GST registration.
Guidance on GST laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
Managing Goods and Services Tax (GST) filings and audits.
Advising on input tax credit (ITC) and other GST-related matters.
Customs Duty Services: Advising on customs duty regulations for import and export businesses.
Indirect Tax Litigation: Providing support in disputes related to indirect taxes.
III. Litigation support:
1. Assessment Proceedings and Reply to Notices:
Understanding and Analyzing Notices: Consultants meticulously review tax notices (e.g., scrutiny notices, reassessment notices, show cause notices, audit notices) to understand the nature of the query, the specific sections of law invoked, and the information/explanation required.
Drafting and Filing Replies/Submissions: This involves preparing detailed, legally sound, and factually accurate responses to tax authorities. These submissions include:
Statement of Facts: Clearly outlining the client's business, transactions, and relevant background.
Legal Arguments:M Citing relevant sections of the Income Tax Act, GST laws, rules, circulars, notifications, and judicial precedents to support the client's position.
Documentary Evidence: Collating and presenting all necessary documents, such as financial statements, invoices, contracts, bank statements, and other supporting records.
Computation of Income/Tax: Providing revised or clarified computations if required.
Representation before Tax Authorities: Attending hearings, discussions, and meetings with various tax officers (Assessing Officers, Joint Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, etc.) on behalf of the client. This includes:
Regular Assessments (Section 143(3) of Income Tax Act): Assisting with the normal assessment process.
Reassessments (Section 147): Addressing cases where income is believed to have escaped assessment.
Search and Seizure Assessments: Providing support and representation in cases involving raids or investigations by the tax department.
TDS/TCS Assessments: Handling disputes related to tax deducted/collected at source.
Transfer Pricing Assessments: Specific representation for multinational companies regarding their inter-company transactions.
GST Audit and Assessment: Assisting with audits conducted by GST authorities and responding to assessment proceedings under GST law.
Investigation Matters: Support in cases related to undisclosed foreign income and assets (Black Money Act), suspicious transaction reports (STRs), Benami transactions, and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) proceedings as they relate to tax.
Faceless Assessments/Appeals (e-Assessments/e-Appeals): Preparing and filing submissions and participating in virtual hearings through the online portals.
2. Appellate Proceedings:
Appeals to the First Appellate Authority:
Direct Tax: Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)] / Joint Commissioner (Appeals) [JCIT(A)]:
Filing Form 35 (Memorandum of Appeal) along with detailed grounds of appeal and statement of facts.
Preparing comprehensive submissions addressing the points raised in the assessment order.
Representing the client during the appeal hearings before the CIT(A)/JCIT(A).
Advising on the payment of pre-deposit (usually 20% of the disputed demand) to stay the demand.
Indirect Tax (GST): Appellate Authority:
Filing Form GST APL-01 (Appeal to Appellate Authority) online, along with supporting documents.
Preparing and submitting detailed arguments against the demand order or other adverse decisions.
Ensuring mandatory pre-deposit (typically 10% of the disputed tax amount) is made before filing.
Representing the client in hearings before the GST Appellate Authority.
Appeals to the Appellate Tribunal:
Direct Tax: Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT):
Filing Form 36 (Memorandum of Appeal) against the order of CIT(A).
Preparing and presenting highly technical and legal arguments before the ITAT benches (which usually consist of a Judicial Member and an Accountant Member).
Dealing with complex legal and factual issues.
Advising on strategies for admitting additional evidence if necessary (with conditions).
Indirect Tax (GST): Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) (once constituted and operational):
Filing appeals against orders of the first Appellate Authority.
Presenting legal and factual arguments.
Appeals to High Courts and Supreme Court:
High Court:
Assisting in drafting and filing appeals (usually writ petitions or appeals under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act or similar provisions in GST) against orders of the ITAT/GSTAT, specifically on "substantial questions of law."
Collaborating with senior counsels/advocates for representation.
Providing factual and legal briefing support to the legal team.
Supreme Court:
Supporting in filing Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) or appeals against High Court judgments.
Providing in-depth research and analytical support for complex legal issues.