Companies Act, 2013: Section 128(5)
- A company is required to maintain its books of account and vouchers for a period of 8 years immediately preceding the current year.
- The Register and Index of Members must be maintained permanently.
- The copies of all Annual Returns and Certificates annexed thereto must be maintained for 8 years from date of filing with the ROC.
Income Tax Act, 1961: Rule 6F of the Income Tax Rules
- Assessees are required to preserve the specified books of account for a period of 6 years from the end of the relevant assessment year, i.e., for a total period of 8 previous years.
- Period of six years gets extended if the assessment is reopened u/s. 147, till the time assessment is completed.
- Transfer Pricing documents and information specified under Rule 10D must be maintained for a period of 8 years from the end of the relevant assessment year, i.e., for a total period of 10 previous years.
- In a case where any income in relation to any asset (including financial interest in any entity) located outside India, chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for any assessment year — 16 years from the end of relevant assessment year.
Goods & Services Tax: Section 36 of the CGST Act, 2017
- 6 years from the due date of furnishing of annual return, or
- 1 year after final disposal of such appeal or revision or proceedings or investigation
