The Ministry of Finance has notified the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024 which will come into effect from October 1, 2024. This scheme aims to reduce income tax litigation and allows taxpayers to settle income tax appeals, writs and petitions that are pending before various appellate authorities including the Supreme Court and high courts as of July 22, 2024.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 88 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024 (15 of 2024), the Central Government hereby appoints the 1st day of October, 2024 as the date on which the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2024 shall come into force,” read the notification by the Ministry of Finance dated September 19, 2024.
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This much-anticipated relief was announced in Budget 2024 presented in July this year. The finance minister announced this scheme and said, “It is proposed to introduce a new scheme for settlement of pending appeals.” The scheme’s operational date has been announced, but the final date for the scheme is still pending announcement.
“The pendency of litigation at various levels has been on the rise due to a larger number of cases going for appeal than the number of disposals. Keeping in view the success of the previous Vivaad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 and the mounting pendency of appeals at CIT(A) level, introduction of a Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Scheme, 2024 is proposed with the objective of providing a mechanism of settlement of disputed issues, thereby reducing litigation without much cost to the exchequer,” as per the explanatory memorandum to Budget 2024.