CHAPTER-XIII
AUDIT
49. Audit by tax authorities
(1) The [Commissioner of CGST/Commissioner of SGST] or any officer authorised by him, by way of a general or a specific order, may undertake audit of the business transactions of any taxable person for such period, at such frequency and in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The tax authorities referred to in sub-section (1) may conduct audit at the place of business of the taxable person and/or in their office.
(3) The taxable person shall be informed, by way of a notice, sufficiently in advance, not less than fifteen working days, prior to the conduct of audit in the manner prescribed.
(4) The audit under sub-section (1) shall be carried out in a transparent manner and completed within a period of three months from the date of commencement of audit:
Provided that where the [Commissioner] is satisfied that audit in respect of such taxable person cannot be completed within three months from the date of commencement of audit, 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, ‘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 taxable 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 taxable person,
(i) to afford him the necessary facility to verify the books of account or other documents as he may require and which may be available at such place,
(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 without delay inform the taxable person, whose records are audited, of the findings, the taxable person’s rights and obligations and the reasons for the 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 erroneously availed, the proper officer may initiate action under section 51.
