Section 133A of the Income-Tax Act

Subject – Governance

Context – On September 10, 2021, officers of the Income-Tax Department visited the premises of News Click and News laundry

Concept –

Section 133A authorises an income-tax authority to enter premises where a business or profession is carried on.
The purpose of entry is limited and specific — to inspect books of account or documents, check or verify the cash, stock or other valuable article or thing which may be found in the premises and furnish such information that the authority may require.
Section 133A authorises the officers to inspect the books of account, place identification marks on them, and on other documents, and even make copies.
They may impound the books of account or other documents inspected by them, for reasons to be recorded in writing. T
hey are also entitled to make an inventory of the cash, stock or other valuable articles verified by the officers.
Finally, they are authorised to record the statement of any person in the surveyed premises, though not on oath.
Section 133A contains a specific prohibition that the officers “shall, on no account, remove or cause to be removed from the place… any cash, stock or other valuable article or thing”.