ICAI’s Ceiling Limit on Specified Number of Tax Audits by CA Firm (AY 2022-23)

ICAI’s Ceiling Limit on Specified Number of Tax Audits by a CA Firm during AY 2022-23 is 60, exclusive of tax audits conducted u/s 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE (Presumptive Taxation) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The ICAI has amended the regulations relating to specified number of tax audits (ceiling limit) that can be conducted by a practising chartered accountant/ CA firm and has clarified various issues relating thereto, from time to time.

On 23/08/2018, ICAI has amended the provisions/ regulations relating to ‘specified number of tax audits’ (ceiling limit) that can be conducted by a practicing CA/ Firm, according to which tax audits conducted under Section 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Presumptive Taxation) shall not be taken into account for the purpose of reckoning the “specified number of tax audit assignments”.

Accordingly, the ‘Tax Audits Limit‘ that is applicable for a practicing CA/ partner in CA Firm shall be 60, which shall not include tax audits conducted under Section 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 

a) Tax audits conducted u/s 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE not to be considered in ‘specified number of tax audit assignments’

ICAI Announcement dt. 23/08/2018: Modification in the Council Guidelines dt. 08/08/2008 as contained in Appendix No. (34) to the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949

In furtherance of the Announcement dt. 11/02/2014 and 02/07/2014 informing the members of the modification in the Council Guidelines No. 1-CA(7)/02/2008 dt. 08/08/2008 pertaining to Chapter VI regarding increase in tax audit limit from 45 to 60 and change in applicability of limit from ‘financial year’ to ‘assessment year’ respectively, it is hereby informed that the Council of the Institute at its 368th meeting held in August, 2017 decided to exclude the audit conducted under section 44ADA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for the purpose of reckoning the “specified number of tax audit assignments” under Chapter VI of the Council Guidelines as section 44ADA of the Income-tax Act, 1961 also contains special provision for computing profits and gains of profession on presumptive basis.

In view of the aforesaid decision of the Council, the fourth proviso to para 6.0 of Chapter VI of the Council Guidelines No. 1-CA(7)/02/2008 dt. 08/08/2008 as contained in Appendix No. (34) to the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 stands modified as under:-

1. In the fourth proviso to para 6.0, after the words “44AD,” words “44ADA and” has been inserted.

2. In the fourth proviso to para 6.0, after the words “44AE,” words “and 44AF” has been deleted.

Accordingly, audits conducted under Section 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE of the Income-tax Act, 1961 shall not be taken into account for the purpose of reckoning the “specified number of tax audit assignments”.

CBDT Clarification on Tax Audit Threshold Limit (S.44AB) & Presumptive Taxation (S.44AD)

Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act makes it obligatory for every person carrying on business to get his accounts of any previous year audited if his total sales, turnover or gross receipts exceed one crore rupees. However, the CBDT has clarified that if an eligible person opts for presumptive taxation scheme as per section 44AD(1) of the Act, he shall not be required to get his accounts audited if the total turnover or gross receipts of the relevant previous year does not exceed two crore rupees. The higher threshold for non-audit of accounts has been given only to assessees opting for presumptive taxation scheme under section 44AD.

CBDT Press Release dt 20/06/2016

b) Tax Audits limit of 60 relate to an assessment year: ICAI  (02/07/2014)

The ICAI has clarified that the specified tax audits limit of 60 would relate to an assessment year as against the existing stipulation of a financial year.

c) Tax Audit Limit Increased From 45 to 60 (11/02/2014)

In view of the enhancement of professional competence of ICAI’s members to perform quality services in an IT-enabled environment, the ICAI has increased the “specified number of tax audit assignments” for practicing Chartered Accountants, as an individual or as a partner in a firm, from 45 to 60. The said limit will be effective for the audits conducted during the financial year 2014-15 and onwards.

d) Specified number of Tax Audit assignments (13/12/2011)

Clarification for reckoning the “specified number of tax audit assignments” conducted under section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961

Various statutes prevailing in India like DVAT, 2004 requires the assessee to furnish an audit report in a form duly signed and verified by such particulars as may be prescribed under section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 i.e. Form 3CB/ 3CD. This had lead to the doubts as to whether such audits would be included in the ceiling of “specified number of tax audit assignments”. Considering the same, the ICAI had clarified that audit prescribed under any statute which requires the audit report in the form as prescribed under section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, shall not be considered for the purpose of reckoning the specified number of tax audit assignments if the turnover of the auditee is below the turnover limit specified in section 44AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961. For instance audit under section 44AD, audit under DVAT, 2004 (for turnover between 40 to 60 Lakhs) etc. will not be considered for inclusion in the present limit of 45 audits.

e) Non-inclusion of S. 44AD, 44AE and 44AF Audits (23/08/2011)

In order to clarify the doubt raised by majority of members in respect of inclusion of audits conducted under sections 44AD, 44AE and 44AF of the Income-tax Act, 1961 in the specified number of tax audit assignments, the ICAI has clarified that:

“The audits conducted under section 44AD, 44AE and 44AF of the Income-tax Act, 1961 shall NOT be taken into account for the purpose of reckoning the “specified number of tax audit assignments”.

f) Tax Audits Limit Increased From 30 to 45 (11/05/2007)

The maximum limit of Tax Audit for a ICAI members in practice, as individual or as a partner in a firm, was fixed at 30 as back as in 1989 with the objective of ensuring quality and equitable distribution of work. In view of fast expanding economy and increase in number of such assignments coinciding with enhancement of professional competence of members to perform quality services in an IT-enabled environment, the ICAI had increased the Tax Audit limit for practicing Chartered Accountants, as individual or as a partner in a firm, from 30 to 45.

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