HomeCirculars › RBI/2007-2008/101

RBI Revises Tax Audit Fee Rules for PSB Auditors (2007-08)

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/101 · issued 25 Jul 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has updated remuneration norms for statutory central and branch auditors of public sector banks for tax audit work, effective 2007-08. Key changes include rotation-based allocation of tax audit among SCAs, continued 20% fee for HO-level tax audit, and allowing banks to decide branch-level tax audit fees in consultation with ACB/Board.

What changed

RBI issued a circular on July 25, 2007, clarifying tax audit fee arrangements for PSBs. For 2007-08 onwards, tax audit at Head Office level must be assigned to one of the existing SCAs by rotation, with fee at 20% of basic audit fee. For branch/controlling office tax audit, banks can now decide auditor appointment and fees in consultation with ACB/Board. For 2006-07, fees remain at existing rates: 20% for SCAs at HO and 15% for branch auditors.

What it means for you

Banks gain flexibility to set branch-level tax audit fees and auditor appointments, subject to ACB/Board approval, promoting local decision-making. The rotation requirement for HO tax audit ensures fair distribution among SCAs. This standardizes tax audit remuneration while allowing banks to tailor branch-level arrangements, potentially reducing administrative burden.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

All nationalised banks, Associate banks of SBI, Statutory Central Auditors (SCAs), Branch auditors of public sector banks, Audit Committees of the Board (ACB)

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the tax audit fee for SCAs at Head Office level for 2007-08?

The fee remains at 20% of the basic audit fee, as previously prescribed. The work must be assigned to one of the existing SCAs by rotation.

Can banks decide branch-level tax audit fees on their own?

Yes, for 2007-08 onwards, PSBs can decide the appointment of auditors and audit fees for branch/controlling office tax audit in consultation with the Audit Committee of the Board (ACB) or Board.

What are the tax audit fee rates for the year 2006-07?

For 2006-07, the fee payable for tax audit at HO/Controlling Office is 20% of basic audit fee for SCAs, and 15% for branch auditors, as per existing rates.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-2008/101 DBS.ARS.BC. No.  3/ 08.92.001/ 2007-08 July 25, 2007 To, The Chairman & Managing Director, all Nationalised Banks and The Managing Director, Associate Banks of SBI Dear Sir/Madam,                                                                                Remuneration payable to the Statutory Central and Branch Auditors of Public Sector Banks from the year 2006-07 Please refer to our circular DBS.ARS.No.BC.08/08.92.001/2006-07 dated June 06, 2007 on remuneration payable to statutory central and branch auditors of public sector banks for the year 2006-07.  As regards fees in respect of tax audit we advise as under: (i) The SCAs as hitherto may be assigned the Tax Audit work at the banks’ Head Office level ; (ii) In order to maintain transparency and a fair distribution of work arrangement amongst the SCAs, tax audit work may be allotted by the banks to one of the existing SCAs by rotation and in consultation with the SCAs/ ACB; (iii) The fee for tax audit payable to SCAs may continue to be paid at 20% of basic audit fee as prescribed hitherto; (iv) As regards tax audit at branch level/ Controlling Office level, it has been decided that PSBs may decide on their own in consultation with ACB/ Board, the appointment of auditors as also the audit fees payable to them; and  (v) The system at (i) to (iv) above will be effective from the current year i.e. 2007-08.  As regards the year 2006-07, the fee payable for tax audit at HO/Controlling Office and branches may be paid at the existing rate of 20% and 15% of basic audit fee to SCAs and branch auditors respectively. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully ( P.S. Sharma ) General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/101 · issued 25 Jul 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=3732&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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