Valuers and authorised income-tax practitioners: date in rules 246 and 256 moved to 31 March 2027; Forms 169 and 171 replaced

The date that moved

By Notification No. 120/2026, CBDT has amended rule 246(4) and rule 256(4) of the Income-tax Rules, 2026. In both, the words “30th September, 2026” are replaced by “31st March, 2027”. The e-filing portal describes this as an extension of the registration deadline for registered valuers and authorised income-tax practitioners. These two changes, and the new forms, take effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Form No. 169 — registration as a valuer

• The application is made under section 514 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, for one class of asset. A separate form is needed for each class.
• The form lists eleven classes — from immovable property, agricultural land, plantations, forests, mines and quarries to shares and business assets, plant and machinery, jewellery, works of art, life interest, and any other asset.
• The fee is ₹10,000. No fee is required from valuers already registered under the Wealth-tax Act, 1957; they upload their certificate of registration.

Form No. 171 — authorised income-tax practitioner

The application is for registration under section 515(3)(a)(v), (vi), (vii) or (viii). The applicant gives educational qualifications, states whether he or she was registered as an authorised income-tax practitioner under the Income-tax Act, 1961, and certifies practice before income-tax authorities for not less than one year.

Other corrections in the same notification

Rules 160, 176 and 225 are also corrected. Those amendments are deemed to have come into force on 1 April 2026.