What is the scheme of advance rulings?

With a view to avoiding a dispute in respect of assessment of income-tax liability in the case of a non-resident (and also specified categories of residents), a Scheme of Advance Ruling was incorporated in Chapter XIX-B of the Income-tax Act. The Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) pronounces rulings on the applications of the non-resident/residents submitted in the prescribed form following prescribed procedure and such rulings are binding both on the applicant and the income-tax department. Thus, the applicant can avoid expensive and time consuming litigation on any question of law or fact which might arise from normal income-tax assessment proceedings. AAR (Procedure) Rules, 1996 provide detailed procedure for obtaining advance rulings.