Last reviewed: 24 September 2026. If you are a registered valuer, or a CA/professional planning to become one to sign off on Rule 11UA fair market value reports, the CBDT's Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules 2026 changed the mechanics of registration itself. Form 169 – the application form for valuer registration – has been revised, now carries a ₹10,000 fee, and the compliance deadline for existing registrants has moved. This is about the registration process itself, not about when a registered valuer is mandatory in the first place, which we cover separately.
What Form 169 now requires
Form 169 is the application a person files to become, or remain, a registered valuer able to issue valuation reports the tax department will accept – most commonly, fair market value reports under Rule 11UA for share valuation, or valuation reports relied on in assessment and scrutiny proceedings. The revised form asks for:
- Personal and professional details of the applicant.
- The specific asset class the applicant is registering to value (for example, equity shares/securities, immovable property, or plant and machinery – registration is asset-class specific, not a blanket valuer licence).
- Educational qualifications and documented valuation experience.
- Declarations as prescribed under the revised rules.
| Aspect | Position under the Fourth Amendment Rules 2026 |
|---|---|
| Form | Form 169, revised format |
| Fee | ₹10,000 |
| Fee exemption | Existing Wealth-tax Act registrants updating their details |
| Deadline for existing registrants | 31 March 2027 (extended from 30 September 2026) |
| Effective date of the amendment | 17 September 2026 |
New applicant vs existing Wealth-tax Act registrant – two different starting points
The ₹10,000 fee is not uniform across every applicant. Read carefully:
- A fresh applicant – someone registering as a valuer for the first time under the current framework – files Form 169 and pays the fee as part of a new registration.
- A valuer already registered under the older Wealth-tax Act regime, who is only updating their details to remain current under the revised framework, is exempt from the fee for that update – but still has to complete the Form 169 update itself, and still has to do it by the new deadline.
Worked example. A valuer registered years ago under the Wealth-tax Act framework, and who has continued to issue Rule 11UA reports since, does not need to pay ₹10,000 simply to keep their registration current – but they do need to file the revised Form 169 with updated details by 31 March 2027. If they let the deadline pass without updating, their registration status for accepting new valuation assignments becomes uncertain, and clients relying on their reports could face avoidable scrutiny questions.
Why this matters beyond the paperwork
A valuation report from an unregistered or lapsed-registration valuer carries real risk in a scrutiny assessment – the assessing officer can question the report's validity on that ground alone, independent of whether the valuation figure itself was reasonable. For founders relying on a valuer for Rule 11UA share valuation ahead of a fundraise or an ESOP exercise, confirming the valuer's registration is current (not just that they are "a CA who does valuations") is now a two-part check: registered for the right asset class, and Form 169 details current as of the applicable date.
Action checklist
- If you are a registered valuer under the Wealth-tax Act framework: file the revised Form 169 update well before 31 March 2027 – treat the deadline as a backstop, not a target date.
- If you are registering as a valuer for the first time: budget for the ₹10,000 fee and gather documentation on qualifications and valuation experience for the specific asset class before applying.
- If you are a founder or company relying on a valuer's report: ask for confirmation of current Form 169 status and the specific asset class covered, not just a general assurance of "registered valuer" status.
Frequently asked questions
Do all registered valuers now have to pay Rs 10,000?
No. New applicants pay the fee as part of registration. Valuers already registered under the Wealth-tax Act framework are exempt from the fee specifically for updating their existing details under the revised Form 169.
What happens if an existing valuer misses the 31 March 2027 deadline?
The amendment does not spell out an automatic penalty, but an un-updated registration creates genuine uncertainty about whether reports issued after the deadline will be accepted without question in assessment proceedings. Treat the deadline as firm rather than testing it.
Is Form 169 registration specific to one type of asset, or does it cover all valuations?
It is asset-class specific. A valuer registers to value a particular class of asset – for example equity shares/securities, immovable property, or plant and machinery – and should not issue reports outside the class they are registered for.
Does this fee apply per asset class or once per valuer?
The amendment as summarised does not itemise a per-class fee structure; confirm the exact fee treatment for multi-class registration with the current form instructions or a professional before applying for more than one asset class.
Is this the same registration used for IBC/insolvency valuations?
No. IBBI-registered valuers under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code are a separate regime with their own registration process. Form 169 is the income-tax registration relevant to Rule 11UA and similar income-tax valuation requirements.
Where can I check if a valuer's registration is current?
There is no single public real-time portal referenced in this amendment for verifying live status; ask the valuer directly for their registration confirmation and, for high-value transactions, ask for documentary proof of their current Form 169 filing.
We coordinate valuation reports from currently registered valuers and handle the surrounding compliance and filings.
Startup Valuation & Fundraising ROC Filing Services Talk to usThis article summarises Form 169 changes under the Income-tax (Fourth Amendment) Rules 2026, effective 17 September 2026, as understood on the date of review. General information, not advice on your specific facts – confirm details against the current forms/portal and consult us or your tax advisor before acting. CA Somesh Chandak & Associates, FRN 158694W.