In a new opinion piece for Fortune India, DAKSH’s Surya Prakash B S, Anuja Maniar Shah and Almitra Rego examine India’s advance ruling mechanism and ask whether India can provide businesses, particularly non-resident investors, with tax certainty before commercial decisions become irreversible.

Best judgment assessments under Section 144 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (and Section 271 of the new 2025 Act) are an important part of tax administration, allowing authorities to complete an assessment when a taxpayer does not participate.