The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has directed all foreign companies operating in India to update their registered business addresses on the income tax e-filing portal, aligning official records with the actual location of operations or liaison offices. This mandate is aimed at ensuring accurate communication, improving regulatory oversight, and supporting seamless delivery of notices, refunds, and compliance requests. The directive applies to all foreign entities with Permanent Account Numbers (PANs) in India, including branches, project offices, and subsidiaries.

According to the CBDT, foreign companies must verify and update their correspondence and registered office addresses by using the ‘Profile Update’ feature on the e-filing portal, and ensure consistency with filings made under the Companies Act and FEMA regulations. Any discrepancy between PAN records and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) or Reserve Bank of India (RBI) filings may lead to system-generated alerts or processing delays. Companies failing to comply may face communication breakdowns, delayed assessments, or even disqualification from certain tax treaty benefits.

To aid compliance, the portal now offers automated address verification through Aadhaar (for Indian representatives), DSC-based verification for authorized signatories, and validation against MCA databases. Foreign firms are also encouraged to appoint local compliance officers to monitor ongoing updates and notifications from the tax department. This step is part of a broader initiative by the government to build a more transparent and traceable ecosystem for cross-border entities, reinforcing accountability in India’s international tax framework.