65. Audit by tax authorities.––(1) The Commissioner or any officer authorised by him, by way of a
general or a specific order, may undertake audit of any registered person for such period, at such
frequency and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The officers referred to in sub-section (1) may conduct audit at the place of business of the
registered person or in their office.
(3) The registered person shall be informed by way of a notice not less than fifteen working days
prior to the conduct of audit in such manner as may be prescribed.
(4) The audit under sub-section (1) shall be completed within a period of three months from the date
of commencement of the audit:
Provided that where the Commissioner is satisfied that audit in respect of such registered person
cannot be completed within three months, he may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the
period by a further period not exceeding six months.
Explanation.––For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “commencement of audit” shall
mean the date on which the records and other documents, called for by the tax authorities, are made
available by the registered person or the actual institution of audit at the place of business, whichever is
later.
(5) During the course of audit, the authorised officer may require the registered person,—
(i) to afford him the necessary facility to verify the books of account or other documents as he
may require;
(ii) to furnish such information as he may require and render assistance for timely completion of
the audit.
(6) On conclusion of audit, the proper officer shall, within thirty days, inform the registered person,
whose records are audited, about the findings, his rights and obligations and the reasons for such findings.
(7) Where the audit conducted under sub-section (1) results in detection of tax not paid or short paid
or erroneously refunded, or input tax credit wrongly availed or utilised, the proper officer may initiate
action under section 73 or section 74.
66. Special audit.––(1) If at any stage of scrutiny, inquiry, investigation or any other proceedings before
him, any officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner, having regard to the nature and complexity of
the case and the interest of revenue, is of the opinion that the value has not been correctly declared or the credit
availed is not within the normal limits, he may, with the prior approval of the Commissioner, direct such
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registered person by a communication in writing to get his records including books of account examined and
audited by a chartered accountant or a cost accountant as may be nominated by the Commissioner.
(2) The chartered accountant or cost accountant so nominated shall, within the period of ninety days,
submit a report of such audit duly signed and certified by him to the said Assistant Commissioner
mentioning therein such other particulars as may be specified:
Provided that the Assistant Commissioner may, on an application made to him in this behalf by the
registered person or the chartered accountant or cost accountant or for any material and sufficient reason,
extend the said period by a further period of ninety days.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall have effect notwithstanding that the accounts of the
registered person have been audited under any other provisions of this Act or any other law for the time
being in force.
(4) The registered person shall be given an opportunity of being heard in respect of any material
gathered on the basis of special audit under sub-section (1) which is proposed to be used in any proceedings
against him under this Act or the rules made thereunder.
(5) The expenses of the examination and audit of records under sub-section (1), including the
remuneration of such chartered accountant or cost accountant, shall be determined and paid by the
Commissioner and such determination shall be final.
(6) Where the special audit conducted under sub-section (1) results in detection of tax not paid or
short paid or erroneously refunded, or input tax credit wrongly availed or utilised, the proper officer may
initiate action under section 73 or section 74.