​​​ An assessee is required to prepare and maintain books of account if his income or gross turnover or receipts, as the case may be, exceeds the prescribed threshold limit. The requirement to maintain the books of accounts is prescribed under Section 44AA and the requirement to get them audited is mentioned in Section 44AB.

 Section 44AA specified different requirements for maintaining books of accounts for the following taxpayers

   -  Specified Professions;

   -  Non-Specified Professions;

   -  Business; and

   -  Businesses eligible for presumptive taxation scheme under ​Section 44AD, 44AE, 44BB, or ​​44BBB.​