Income Tax Audit
A tax audit is a process to verify whether the books of accounts prepared by a taxpayer comply with the generally accepted accounting principles and the provisions of the Income-tax Act. It is intended to ensure that the books of account and other records are properly maintained and correctly compute the taxpayer’s true income. Such an audit also helps in checking fraudulent practices. A tax audit does not give the assessee any immunity from scrutiny assessment disallowance of expenses1. A tax audit can be conducted only by a Chartered Accountant in practice.
Form No. 3CA/3CB is a format of audit report, whereas Form 3CD is a Statement of particulars required to be furnished under Section 44AB of the Income-tax Act. If the assessee is required to get his books of accounts audited under any other law, it is sufficient for him to get his accounts audited under that law and furnish a report of such audit and a report in form 3CA and 3CD by a Chartered Accountant by the prescribed due date.