Rule – 127, Service of notice, summons, requisition, order and other communication

127.(1) For the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 282, the addresses (including the address for electronic mail or electronic mail message) to which a notice or summons or requisition or order or any other communication under the Act (hereafter in this rule referred to as “communication”) may be delivered or transmitted shall be as per sub-rule (2).

(2) The addresses referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be—

(a) for communications delivered or transmitted in the manner provided in clause (a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 282—

(i) the address available in the PAN database of the addressee; or

(ii) the address available in the income-tax return to which the communication relates; or

(iii) the address available in the last income-tax return furnished by the addressee; or

(iv) in the case of addressee being a company, address of registered office as available on the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs:

Provided that the communication shall not be delivered or transmitted to the address mentioned in item (i) to (iv) where the addressee furnishes in writing any other address for the purposes of communication to the income-tax authority or any person authorised by such authority issuing the communication:

²[Provided further that where the communication cannot be delivered or transmitted to the address mentioned in item (i) to (iv) or any other address furnished by the addressee as referred to in first proviso, the communication shall be delivered or transmitted to the following address:—

(i) the address of the assessee as available with a banking company or a co-operative bank to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) applies (including any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of the said Act); or

(ii) the address of the assessee as available with the Post Master General as referred to in clause (j) of section 2 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (6 of 1898); or

(iii) the address of the assessee as available with the insurer as defined in clause (9) of section 2 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (4 of 1938); or

(iv) the address of the assessee as furnished in Form No.61 to the Director of Income-tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation) or to the Joint Director of Income-tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation) under sub-rule (1) of rule 114D; or

(v) the address of the assessee as furnished in Form No.61A under sub-rule (1) of rule 114E to the Director of Income-tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation) or to the Joint Director of Income-tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation); or

(vi) the address of the assessee as available in the records of the Government; or

(vii) the address of the assessee as available in the records of a local authority as referred to in the Explanation below clause (20) of section 10 of the Act.]

(b) for communications delivered or transmitted electronically—

(i) e-mail address available in the income-tax return furnished by the addressee to which the communication relates; or

(ii) the e-mail address available in the last income-tax return furnished by the addressee; or(ii) the e-mail address available in the last income-tax return furnished by the addressee; or

(iii) in the case of addressee being a company, e-mail address of the company as available on the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs; or(iii) in the case of addressee being a company, e-mail address of the company as available on the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs; or

(iv) any e-mail address made available by the addressee to the income-tax authority or any person authorised by such income-tax authority.(iv) any e-mail address made available by the addressee to the income-tax authority or any person authorised by such income-tax authority.

(3) The Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) or the Director General of Income-tax (Systems) shall specify the procedure, formats and standards for ensuring secure transmission of electronic communication and shall also be responsible for formulating and implementing appropriate security, archival and retrieval policies in relation to such communication.

Reference: www.incometaxindia.gov.in