Changes in valuer and income-tax practitioner registration rules
Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026: CBDT Notifies Changes in Valuer and Income-tax Practitioner Registration Rules
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, has notified the Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026 through Notification No. 120/2026 dated 17 September 2026.
The amendments modify certain provisions of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 and introduce revised application forms for registration of valuers and authorised income-tax practitioners under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
Key Changes at a Glance
The notification makes changes relating to:
- Registration-related provisions under Rule 160;
- Electronic communication under Rule 176;
- Various procedural provisions under Rule 225;
- Extension of certain dates under Rules 246 and 256;
- Revised Form No. 169 for registration as a valuer;
- Revised Form No. 171 for registration as an authorised income-tax practitioner.
Some amendments are deemed to have taken effect from 1 April 2026, while the remaining provisions take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
1. Changes in Rule 160
The notification makes technical changes in the references appearing in sub-rules (3) and (4) of Rule 160.
The references previously expressed using the numbering format “(i)” have been replaced with the corresponding “(a)” format.
These changes are deemed to have come into force from 1 April 2026.
2. Change in Rule 176 – Electronic Communication
Rule 176 has also been amended.
In Rule 176(3)(a)(ii), the earlier reference to communication by affixing a digital signature has been replaced with wording referring to communication through electronic communication.
This amendment is also effective retrospectively from 1 April 2026.
3. Amendments to Rule 225
Several changes have been made to Rule 225, including:
- Removal of clause (c) from sub-rule (4);
- Modification of the wording in sub-rule (19);
- Correction of a reference in sub-rule (56);
- Omission of sub-rules (75) to (83) and sub-rule (91);
- Removal of the words relating to arrest and detention from sub-rule (87).
These amendments are part of the changes brought into effect from 1 April 2026.
4. Extension of Certain Dates: The CBDT has extended the dates appearing in Rules 246 and 256.
Rule 246: The date 30 September 2026 has been replaced with 31 March 2027 in Rule 246(4).
Rule 256: Similarly, the date 30 September 2026 appearing in Rule 256(4) has been extended to 31 March 2027.
5. Revised Form No. 169 – Registration as a Valuer
A revised Form No. 169 has been prescribed for applications seeking registration as a valuer under section 514 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
The revised form requires applicants to provide information covering several areas.
Personal Information
Applicants are required to provide details such as:
- Full name;
- PAN;
- Address;
- Date of birth;
- Mobile number;
- Email address.
Class of Asset
The applicant must specify the class of asset for which registration as a valuer is being sought.
The form covers various asset categories, including:
- Immovable property, subject to the specified exclusions;
- Agricultural land;
- Specified plantations;
- Forests;
- Mines and quarries;
- Stocks, shares, debentures, securities and specified business assets;
- Machinery and plant;
- Jewellery;
- Works of art;
- Life interests, reversions and interests in expectancy; and
- Other assets.
Qualification and Experience
The application requires supporting information relating to:
- Educational qualifications;
- Previous employment;
- Professional practice as a consulting engineer, valuer, real estate professional, surveyor, architect or similar professional;
- Other eligibility-related information;
- Experience as a valuer.
Applicants must also provide details of assets valued or work undertaken during the preceding three years.
The form asks whether the applicant is already registered as a valuer under the Wealth-tax Act, 1957 and, where applicable, requires the relevant registration certificate to be furnished.
Disqualification Declaration
The applicant must disclose whether any disqualification applies under the relevant provisions of Rule 247.
Where applicable, details of the relevant disqualification are required to be provided.
Declaration by Valuer
The revised form includes declarations concerning the applicant’s responsibilities, including the obligation to:
- Conduct valuations impartially and accurately;
- Submit valuation reports in the prescribed manner;
- Charge fees within the prescribed limits; and
- Avoid undertaking valuations where the applicant has a direct or indirect interest in the asset.
Application Fee
The notification specifies an application fee of ₹10,000 for registration as a valuer.
However, the fee is not applicable to valuers who are already registered under the Wealth-tax Act, 1957.
A separate application is required for registration in respect of different classes of assets.
6. Revised Form No. 171 – Authorised Income-tax Practitioner
The notification also replaces Form No. 171, which is used for applications for registration as an authorised income-tax practitioner under section 515 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
The revised form contains the following major sections.
Personal Details
Applicants are required to provide:
- Name;
- Gender;
- PAN;
- Name of father/husband;
- Permanent residential address;
- Present residential address;
- Mobile number and email;
- Principal place of profession in India.
The form also asks whether the applicant is a partner in a firm. Where applicable, details of the firm, including its name and PAN, are required.
Educational Qualifications: Applicants are required to provide details of the prescribed educational qualifications and attach the relevant certificate.
The form also asks whether the applicant is already registered as an authorised income-tax practitioner under the Income-tax Act, 1961. If so, the existing registration certificate is required to be furnished.
Additional information relevant to eligibility may also be provided.
Disqualification Details: The applicant must disclose whether any disqualification exists under the relevant provisions of section 515.
Where a disqualification applies, the form requires information concerning whether it is permanent and, where applicable, the date until which the disqualification continues.
Applicant’s Certification: The applicant is required to certify, among other things, that they have been practising before income-tax authorities for at least one year and that they have not submitted another application for registration as an authorised income-tax practitioner under the Income-tax Act, 2025 to another Chief Commissioner or Commissioner of Income-tax.
A separate verification is also included in the revised form.
Important Takeaways: The Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026 bring a combination of procedural, drafting and registration-related changes.
The important points for taxpayers and professionals include:
- Certain amendments are effective from 1 April 2026.
- The dates under Rules 246 and 256 have been extended from 30 September 2026 to 31 March 2027.
- A revised application format has been prescribed for registration of valuers.
- The revised valuer application includes detailed requirements relating to qualifications, experience, asset classes and disqualifications.
- The valuer registration application carries a ₹10,000 fee, subject to the specified exemption for existing Wealth-tax Act-registered valuers.
- A separate application is required for each asset class.
- A revised application form has also been prescribed for authorised income-tax practitioners.
- The revised practitioner form contains detailed information requirements concerning qualifications, existing registration and disqualification.
Effective Date: The notification was issued on 17 September 2026.
The amendments contained in rules 2 to 4 are deemed to have taken effect from 1 April 2026, whereas the changes covered by rules 5 to 8 take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
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