Requirement of using encrypted PAN on DSC for non-resident signatories of Foreign Companies relaxed.

An amendment to Rule 12 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 vide notification no. 49 dated 9th July,2010 made it mandatory for all Companies (including foreign companies) filing ITR-6 to digitally sign the Income-tax return for the AY 2010-11. Thereafter, certain procedural changes were effected.
 
The Institute was given to understand that as per the changed requirements made applicable w.e.f. 1.08.2010, where the signatory to the return is not the same as the signatory in the immediately preceding year, the system required that the DSC also contains the PAN encryption therein.
 
The said revised procedure was creating practical difficulties in case of Foreign Companies whose directors being non-residents were not required to obtain a Permanent Account Number in India due to which a PAN encrypted DSC could not be immediately available.

Hence, a representation posing the difficulty being faced by Foreign Companies was made by the Institute to the Central Board of Direct Taxes. In view of the same the Central Board of Direct Taxes has relaxed the requirement of using encrypted PAN on DSC for non-resident signatories of Foreign Companies.
 
Accordingly, the signatory may register with a non-PAN DSC from CCA, India and use the same jurisdiction while uploading the return. This facility is available ONLY for all foreign Companies under the jurisdiction of respective International Taxation wards or circles of Income Tax Department.

The detailed announcement may be obtained from www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in