(a) the eligibility criteria specified for a Tax Return Preparers (TRPs);
(b) the number of tax assessee benefited by TRP scheme;
(c) whether any commission/fee/incentive is given to a TRP;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether Public Interest Litigation was filed by a Chartered Accountant a few months
ago who contended that the TRP scheme has encroached on the jurisdiction of the Chartered
Accountants; and
(f) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM)
(a) The minimum eligibility for undergoing training as Tax Return Preparers is a
graduation degree in Commerce, Law, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or Business Management
/Administration. Individuals, aged not more than 35 years, were trained as Tax Return
Preparers, only after selection through a nation-wide enrolment examination. Passing of end-
of-training course examination with 60% marks was mandatory to be certified as Tax Return
Preparers.
(b) The Tax Return Preparer Scheme has commenced in the year 2007-08. Whether a tax-
assessee has utilised the services of a TRP can be known when his return of income is
processed.
(c) & (d) The Tax Return Preparers will be paid 3% of the tax collected for the first
year’s income-tax return of a new tax payer, 2% for the second year and 1% for the third
year, on the returns prepared by Tax Return Preparers. Payment to the TRPs will be made
only after processing of returns by the Income-tax Department. The total payment in respect
of a single return of income is subject to maximum payment of Rs.1,000/- and a minimum
payment of Rs.250/- per return. For preparing and furnishing returns of existing tax
payers, TRPs can collect Rs.250 from the taxpayer per income-tax return for each assessment
year.
(e) & (f) Yes, Sir. The proceedings before the Hon’ble High Court are under progress and
the matter is subjudice.