40. Period of limitation for assessment

(1) An assessment under section 38 or re-assessment under Section 39 of an amount of tax due for any prescribed tax period shall not be made after five years after the end of the prescribed tax period.
 
Provided that an assessment or reassessment relating to any tax period upto the period ending 31st day of March, 2007 shall be made within a period of eight years after the end of the prescribed tax period.
 
Provided further that an assessment or reassessment relating to any tax period commencing from the 1st day of April, 2007 upto the period
ending 31st day of March, 2012 shall be made within a period of seven years after the end of the prescribed tax period.
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if any tax is, not paid by a dealer who has failed to get registered though liable to do so or fraudulently evaded attracting punishment under Section 79, an assessment or reassessment may be made within eight years from the end of the prescribed tax period.
 
Provided that an assessment or reassessment relating to any tax period upto the period ending 31st day of March, 2007 shall be made under this sub-section within a period of ten years after the end of the prescribed tax period