CBDT Updates Schema Form 3CA 3CD & Form 3CB-3CD: Find Latest Document Here
The latest additions aligns the audit forms with codes that have already been used in ITR-3 and ITR-4
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has released the latest schema update for both Form 3CA-3CD and Form 3CB-3CD, with the latest update in effect from 14 August 2025 onwards.
Issued under Version 2.4 of the department’s e-Filing project, the new schema documents mark an important revision for tax audit reporting. The updated schema which has been issued by the Directorate of Income Tax (Systems), New Delhi confirms that the latest changes have specifically addressed Clause 10 of the Tax Audit Report by incorporating additional subsector codes into the schema structure.
The latest schema update brings the SchemaVer field to Version 2.4 and makes important changes to the “F3cdFirmAopDtlNatOfBusiness” and “F3cdFirmAopDtlChangeInNature” sections.
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Now, new business activity codes have been added to the dropdown for the FirmAopDesc tag, and includes Speculative Trading, Futures and Options Trading, Buying and Selling of Shares, Social Media Influencers and Commission Agents – Kachcha Arahtia. The latest additions aligns the audit forms with codes that have already been used in ITR-3 and ITR-4, removing earlier inconsistencies and making tax audit reporting clearer and more consistent with return filing requirements.
The revised schema essentially changes the mode reporting nature of business and changes in business activity under Clause 10, which auditors and taxpayers are required to disclose. Extending the codes to the audit report matches the compliance framework and removes inconsistencies between return filing and tax audit forms.
Meanwhile the changes were spoken about on X by Chartered Accountant Himank Singla (@CAHimankSingla) wrote that the new business codes released in ITR-3 and ITR-4 have now been incorporated in Clause 10 of the Tax Audit Report. He noted that these were not reflected earlier, which could have been the result of a technical oversight.
https://x.com/cahimanksingla/status/1956688866343014682?s=46
The update, however, has sparked a debate within the professional community. Other chartered accountants responding to the thread have raised concerns over the frequency of schema updates, with some questioning whether such continuous changes create uncertainty for auditors and taxpayers during the ongoing audit season.
The release of Version 2.4 thus represents not only a technical correction by CBDT but also highlights the operational challenges faced by professionals in adapting to frequent modifications in statutory reporting formats. As compliance deadlines approach, tax practitioners are required to realign their audit procedures to ensure accurate filing under the updated framework.
Access the Common offline utility for Form 3CA-3CD and 3CB-3CD Updated as of 14 August, 2025 here.
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