Extension of date for filing of Income Tax Returns extended for five days up to 5th August, 2017

Extension of date for filing of Income Tax Returns extended for five days up to 5th August, 2017

There are some complaints that the taxpayers are not being able to log on to the e-filing website of Income Tax Department or not being able to link Aadhaar with PAN because of different names reflected in PAN and Aadhaar database. While technical snags have been removed already, the main reason for failure of people to log in is because of last minute rush and panic in which those who have already logged in want to continue for the entire period for fear of losing it.

In order to ease-out the panic situation, the Government has decided to take the following steps:

• For the purpose of e-filing return, it would be sufficient as of now to quote Aadhaar or acknowledgement No. for having applied for Aadhaar in e-filing website. The actual linking of PAN with Aadhaar can be done subsequently, but any time before 31st August, 2017. However, the returns will not be processed until the linkage of Aadhaar with PAN is done.
• In order to facilitate the e-filing of return, it is also decided to give extension of five days for e-filing of return. The return can be filed upto 5th August, 2017.

PIB

Income Tax department launches new facility to link Aadhaar with PAN

Income Tax department launches new facility to link Aadhaar with PAN

New Delhi: The Income Tax department has launched a new e-facility to link a person's Aadhaar with the Permanent Account Number (PAN), a mandatory procedure for filing IT returns now.

The department's e-filing website https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/ has created a new link on its homepage making it easy" to link the two unique identities of an individual.

The link requires a person to punch in his PAN number, Aadhaar number and the exact name as given in the Aadhaar card".

After verification from the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), the linking will be confirmed. In case of any minor mismatch in Aadhaar name provided, Aadhaar OTP (one time password) will be required," the department said in its advisory to taxpayers and individuals.

The OTP will be sent on the registered mobile number and email of the individual.

It urged them to ensure that the date of birth and gender in PAN and Aadhaar are exactly the same, to ensure linking without failure.

There is no need to login or be registered on e-filing website (of the I-T department). This facility can be used by anyone to link their Aadhaar with PAN," it said.

The government, under the Finance Act 2017, has made it mandatory for taxpayers to quote Aadhaar or enrolment ID of Aadhaar application form for filing of income tax returns (ITR).

Also, Aadhaar has been made mandatory for applying for permanent account number with effect from July 1, 2017.

The department, till now, has linked over 1.18 Aadhaar with its PAN database.

While Aadhaar is issued by the UIDAI to a resident of India, PAN is a ten-digit alphanumeric number issued in the form of a laminated card by the IT department to any person, firm or entity.

PTI

Income tax reduced by 5% for Income upto Rs.5 lakh: Budget 2017

Income tax reduced by 5% for Income upto Rs. 5 lakh: Budget 2017

Finance Minister announced in the budget speech for 2017-18 today in Lok Sabha, there were legitimate expectations of the salary class after demonetization to reduce the tax burden. He proposed reducing the present rate of income tax from 10 to 5 percent for the first slab of income from 2.5 lakhs to 5 lakh rupees

NEW INCOME TAX RATES 2017-18 (ASSESSMENT YEAR 2018-19)

Total Income	Normal Rates of Income Tax
Up to Rs.2,50,000 to Rs.5,00,000	5%

• All taxpayers above 5 lakh rupees to get benefit of 12,500 rupees across the board
• 10% Surcharge on individuals with income between 50 lakh to 1 Crore
• Surcharge of 10% for individuals earning between Rs 50 lakh- 1 crore; Surcharge for incomes > Rs 1 crore at 15% to continue
• A single one-page form for filing IT returns for taxable income up to 5 lakh rupees
• Tax on income from 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent
• Time period of revising tax return to be reduced to 12 months

Revised Norms of IT Returns; Electronic Verification of Income Tax Returns For A.Y. 2015-16 Introduced

Revised Norms of IT Returns; Electronic Verification of Income Tax Returns For A.Y. 2015-16 Introduced

As per rule 12 of the Income-tax Rules, in case of individuals and certain other specified taxpayer, returns may be filed electronically followed by submission of signed paper copy of ITR-Verification form (ITR-V). However, to provide end-to-end enabled services to the tax payers, a facility has been introduced for electronic verification of the Income-tax Returns for A.Y. 2015-16 in these cases.

Under this, a taxpayer may verify his return through Internet Banking or through Aadhaar based authentication process.

For the convenience of small taxpayers having total income of Rs. 5 lakhs or below without any claim of refund, facility for generating Electronic Verification Code (EVC) has also been provided on the E-filing website of the Department. In such cases EVC will be sent to the Registered Email ID and Mobile Number of the taxpayer. Persons using this facility will not be required to submit a signed paper copy of ITR-V to the Income-tax Department.

Taxpayers are permitted to use Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) to verify their e-filed Income-tax return. The electronic signature is a type of DSC and can be used to verify e-filed Income-tax return. As mentioned above, the taxpayers can use their Aadhaar number for e-filing of return as per the Aadhaar based authentication process.

This was stated by Shri Jayant Sinha, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Income Tax: E-filing of newly notified ITRs to begin soon

Income Tax: E-filing of newly notified ITRs to begin soon

New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Taxpayers wanting to file online I-T returns for assessment year 2015-16, using the newly notified ITR-2 or ITR-2A forms, will have to wait for few more days as the tax department is in the process of launching the facility on its official website.

While two other ITRs, ITR-1 and ITR-4S, are ready to be filed and submitted at the official e-filing website– https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in– proper links for the two forms used by a majority of taxpayers will be enabled shortly.

Officials said the links for the rest of the ITRs will be available very soon.

The department notified the new set of ITR forms early this week, including a three-page simplified form.

The e-filing of ITR can be done upto till August 31, the new deadline set in this regard by the government after it had dropped the earlier forms which had attracted criticism for seeking numerous additional details like that of filers’ foreign travel and about dormant bank accounts.

The most simplified form, ITR-2A, to be filled by those individuals and HUFs who do not have income from either business, profession or by way of capital gains and do not hold foreign assets, only asks for the passport number of the tax-filer, with the words “if available”.

The ITR-2 is meant for individuals and HUFs having income from business or profession.

Beginning this season, it is expected, that online filers will be given a One-Time Password (OTP) on their mobile phones to validate their returns in order to end the system of sending a paper acknowledgment (ITR-V) of the filed return.

For the same reason, the I-T department has asked taxpayers to provide their Aadhaar number in the ITR so that it can do a back-end validation of the same and successfully process the returns.

PTI

Income Tax Offices shall remain open on 29th, 30th and 31st of March, 2014

Income Tax Offices shall remain open on 29th, 30th and 31st of March, 2014

F.No.225/138/2014/ITA.II
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, the 24th March, 2014

Order under Section 119(1) of the Income tax Act, 1961.

The Financial Year 2013-14 closes on 31.3.2014. In view of closer of office on 29th and 30th of March being Saturday and Sunday and also on 31st March at some stations being Gudi Padava, Ugadi etc. the field Income Tax Offices through-out India shall remain open and the receipts counters shall also work during normal office hours on 29th, 30th and 31st of March, 2014. This direction is issued for administrative convenience by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Special arrangements may also be made by way of opening additional receipt counters, wherever required on 29th, 30th and 31st March 2014 to facilitate filing of return of income and other related work of tax payers. These instructions may be given wide publicity.

sd/-
(Richa Rastogi)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Source: www.incometaxindia.gov.in
[http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/BreakingNews_CBDT_NewDelhi_25032014.pdf]

Income Tax returns can still be filed even after the deadline: IT dept. urges

Income Tax returns can still be filed even after the deadline: IT dept. urges
A press release of PIB Mumbai said that those who missed the deadline of August 5 can still file their income tax returns...

IT Department urges all those tax payers to file their IT Returns, who missed even the extended deadline of August 5.

The Income Tax Department has urged all those tax payers who have not filed their Income Tax Returns, even by the extended deadline of August 5, 2013, to file their returns at the earliest to keep away unavoidable difficulties.

Those who missed the deadline of August 5, 2013 can still file their IT Returns.  If all your taxes are paid and there are no refunds to be claimed it is quite straight and simple. The IT return can be filed before March 31, 2014.  If the return is not filed by March 31, 2014,  there will be a penalty of Rs 5000 that will be levied.  Those with tax dues will have to pay late payment fee leviable for every month of delay since April 2013.

All those with total income of Rs 5 lakh and above and all those having foreign assets have to mandatorily file their IT returns online. More than 1.23 crore tax payers filed their returns online this year. Those with total income less than Rs 5 lakh can file their returns off-line.

While Income Tax Department gives taxpayers certain grace period to file their returns, there are certain disadvantages associated with late filing of IT returns.  Those who file their returns late, can not modify their returns if there are any mistakes. They also can not carry forward any short term and long term losses.

The Department keeps a close watch on transactions and possesses necessary tools to detect tax evasions. A person defaulting in filing returns of income could be liable for prosecution u/s. 276CC of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Conviction may result in rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than six months but which may extend to seven years and a fine, if the tax liability which has been evaded exceeds Rs 25 lakhs.  In other cases ( tax evasion below Rs.25,00,000/-), a defaulter would be liable for conviction for not less than three months but which may extend to two years and a fine.

It may be recalled that recently, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi sentenced a tax payer to six months imprisonment in one assessment year and one year imprisonment in subsequent Assessment Year for repeating the offence of not filing return of income.

PIB News

CBDT Orders - Extension of due date for filing of Returns of Income from 31th July 2013 to 05th August 2013

CBDT Orders - Extension of due date for filing of Returns of Income from 31th July 2013 to 05th August 2013

F.No. 225/117/2013/ITA.II
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Direct Taxes

North-Block, ITA.II Division
New Delhi, the 31st of July, 2013

Order under Section 119 of the Income-tax Act. 1961

The Central Board of Direct Taxes, in exercise of powers conferred under section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, hereby extends the ‘due-date’ for filing Returns of Income from 31st July, 2013 to 5th August, 2013.

sd/-
(Rohit Garg)
Deputy-Secretary to Government of India

Source: www.incometaxindia.gov.in
[http://incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/BreakingNews_Extension_for_filing_of_Returns_of_Income_31072013.pdf]

More than 82 Lakh Returns E-Filed till 29.07.2013

More than 82 Lakh Returns E-Filed till 29.07.2013

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

30-July-2013 20:05 IST

Overwhelming Response for e-filing from Every Corner of the Country; More than 82 Lakh Returns E-Filed till 29th July, 2013 which is More than 40% of the Returns e-filed during the Same Period Last Year; Record Peak of more than 85,000 Returns Per Hour Achieved

The due date for filing of Income Tax Return for individuals and non-auditable cases is 31st July, 2013. There has been an overwhelming response for e-filing from every corner of the country. More than 82 lakh returns have been e-filed till 29th July, 2013 which is more than 40% of the returns e-filed during the same period last year.

On 30th July, 2013, 6.23 lakh returns were e-filed till 6:00 PM. Record peak of more than 85,000 returns per hour has been achieved.

Due to overwhelming response, some taxpayers have reported problems in accessing e-filing portal which is primarily due to network constrains of the local internet service providers. The e-filing portal has been running without any interruptions and is being continuously monitored by a dedicated team of income tax officials in Bangalore. The situation will again be reviewed by the CBDT tomorrow morning.

*****
Source: PIB
(Release ID :97490)

New rules of filing tax returns

New rules of filing tax returns
The tax authorities have introduced several new guidelines for filing returns this year. Find out how these changes are likely to impact you.

First they made it compulsory for businesses to e-file their tax returns. Then they made it mandatory for taxpayers with incomes of over 10 lakh to take the online route. This year, the income tax authorities have cast a wider net and made e-filing compulsory if your taxable income is above 5 lakh a year.

The lowered threshold represents one of the key changes in the tax filing rules this year. Some of these are mere tweaks, such as mentioning your bank's IFSC number, instead of the MICR code, in the return. However, some of these variations are tectonic, such as the mandatory e-filing for incomes above 5 lakh a year. In the following pages, ET Wealth explains the new rules and how they will affect the way you file your tax return this year.

E-filing tax returns

The change has spawned a massive opportunity for tax e-filing portals. These websites charge individual taxpayers between 200 and 4,000 for uploading their tax returns. You can also do it for free on the official website of the Income Tax Department. However, private tax filing portals hand-hold the taxpayer through the process. They guide you while filling the form and even correct you if you make a mistake.

Filing tax returns online is easy. The average taxpayer won't take more than 30-40 minutes to enter all the details and upload the return. However, the average taxpayer also harbours several misconceptions about e-filing . Tax returns are picked up for scrutiny through a computer assisted selection procedure that has no human intervention. If the computer detects certain discrepancies in the return, it raises the red flag and the individual gets a notice. In fact, there is a greater probability that a return filed offline will get picked up for scrutiny . The information in your physical return is ultimately fed to the computer by operators. A typing error at this stage can introduce a discrepancy in the return, leading to a notice being sent to you.

This problem can be avoided when you file online because the chances of going wrong are lesser. The e-filing portals further reduce the risk of errors by calculating the tax as you fill in the form. Some e-filing companies , such as Taxspanner, even verify your return for a small fee. If you are ready to shell out 200, the portal will check if you have entered correct information and alert you when you are going wrong. Tax professionals go through your return form, tallying the numbers and cross-checking the information before it is uploaded.

Choose the right form

The online filing data reveals that more than 32% of the 2 crore individual taxpayers used the basic ITR 1, also known as Sahaj, to file their returns last year. Only 11% used the more complicated ITR 2. These statistics indicate that a lot of taxpayers who should have used ITR 2 filed their returns using the simpler Sahaj form. The income level does not matter; what is important is the source of income. For instance , if one had made capital gains or earned rent from more than one house, he should have used ITR 2.

If you have not filed your return for last year as well, you can do so now. A return filed after the due date is a delayed return. If you file your delayed return before you get a notice, you have a better chance of getting away lightly. The taxman will not take you to task for not filing your returns, just give you a mild rap for waking up late.

Automatic choice for e-filers

For some online tax filers, choosing the right form is not an issue. "A taxpayer has to just enter what he has earned under different heads of income and the portal automatically chooses the applicable form," says Sudhir Kaushik, co-founder and CFO of Taxspanner.com. For instance, if the person has only income from salary and no exempt income, his return will be filed using ITR 1, but if he made some capital gains, has rental income from more than one house or his exempt income exceeds 5,000, ITR 2 will have to be used.

However, taxpayers who upload their returns through the official Income Tax Department website will have to be more careful about the form they use. Delhi-based Kuldip Kaushik used the ITR 1 last year, but since he had dividend income of over 5,000 for the year 2012-13 , he will have to use ITR 2 this year.

If a taxpayer uses the wrong form and the mistake is discovered by the tax authorities, the return may be rejected . Every year, thousands of defective returns are sent back to taxpayers. A defective return is not an earth shattering matter. If you get a notice, you will have to file a revised return within 15 days. If you meet the deadline, the return is treated as valid. Get delayed and your return will become invalid and you will have to file afresh.

"If you discover on your own that you have made a mistake in the return or used the incorrect form, you can file a revised return to rectify the mistake ," says Vineet Agrawal, director KPMG. Your new return will overule the previous one if the assessment has not been completed.

Check your TDS details

Before you sit down to file your returns this year, spend a few minutes to check whether the tax you paid for last year has been correctly credited to your name. The Form 26AS has details of the tax deducted on behalf of the taxpayer and can be easily checked online. Noida-based Brijendra Singh wishes he had done so last year. The former army officer got a tax notice because of a clerical error by his bank. The TDS paid on his income from fixed deposits was credited to another PAN by mistake. Though he was eventually given credit for his TDS, Singh is not taking any chances this year. He has diligently matched all his TDS details with his Form 26AS online.

Checking your tax credit details online is child's play if you have a Net banking account with any of the 35 banks that offer this facility. Otherwise you can go to the official website of the Income Tax Department and click on 'View Your Tax Credit' . First-time users will have to register but it takes less than five minutes before you can log on and view your details. "It is necessary that taxpayers check their TDS when they file their returns," says Kuldip Kumar of PwC.

Forms seek more information

If salaried people are feeling jittery about using the more detailed ITR 2, imagine what partners in firms and businessmen are going though. In an attempt to dig deeper for undisclosed income, the government has made it mandatory for partners, professionals and businessmen with an income of over 25 lakh to furnish details of their assets and liabilities. There is a new 'Schedule AL' in the ITR 3 and ITR 4. If the taxpayer's income exceeds 25 lakh during the year, he will have to declare his assets and liabilities.

Source: http:timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Special IT Return Receipt Counters for Salaried Tax Payers With Income Upto Rs. Five Lakh

Special IT Return Receipt Counters for Salaried Tax Payers With Income Upto Rs. Five Lakh

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

22-July-2013 18:22 IST

Special IT Return Receipt Counters for Salaried Tax Payers With Income Upto Rs. 5 Lakh

The CBDT has, vide notification dated 1-05-2013, made E-filing of Return compulsory for Assessment Year 2013-14 for persons having total assessable income exceeding Five lakh rupees.

The CBDT vide its earlier notifications had exempted salaried employees having total income upto Rs. 5 lakhs including income from other sources upto Rs. 10,000/- from the requirement of filing return of income for assessment year 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. The exemption was available only for the assessment year 2011-12 and 2012-13. The exemption was giving considering ‘paper filing of returns’ and their ‘processing through manual entry’ on system.

However, this year the facility for online filing of returns has been made user-friendly with the advantage of pre-filled return forms. These E-filed forms also get electronically processed at the central processing centre in a speedy manner. Hence, the exemption provided during the last two years is not being extended for assessment year 2013-14. Taxpayers are encouraged to file their returns electronically. E-filing is an easy, fast and secure method of filing of income tax return. Moreover, Digital signature is not mandatory for these taxpayers and they can transmit the data in the return electronically by downloading ITRs, or by online filing and thereafter submit the verification of the return in From ITR-V acknowledgement after signature to Central Processing Centre. The processing for E-filed returns is faster.

From 25th July to 31st July 2013 (Except 27th and 28th July being holidays), Special Return Receipt Counters (FOR SALARIED TAX PAYERS) will operate at Pratayakshar Bhawan, Civic Centre, Minto Road, New Delhi this year. (Instead of Pragati Maidan and Mayur Bhavan as were done in the past).

The special counters have been set up jurisdiction wise as follows:

• For CIT-XIV Charge (Govt. Salary) at ‘B’ Block, Ground Floor in Civil Centre,

• For CIV-XV Charge (PSUs/Schools/Colleges/Bank Salary) at ‘C’ Block, Ground Floor in Civic Centre,

• For CIT-XVI Charge (Private Salary) at ‘C’ Block, Ground Floor in Civil Centre,

• In addition special counters separately will function at ‘B’ and ‘C’ Block in Civic Centre for Senior Citizens and Differently abled persons.

As Returns of Income above Rs. 5 lakhs have to be e-filed online mandatorily, the same will not be received at any of these special counters. Only paper return of income upto 5 lakhs can be filed at these counters. Other facilities like Helpdesk, Tax Return Preparers (TRPs), UTI/NSDL counters, Bank, tax payment facility, PAN facilitation counter etc. Will be also available at Civic Centre, New Delhi during the same period.

Source: http://90paisa.blogspot.in

Government urges all tax Payers to pay Appropriate taxes and to disclose their True income within the Current Financial Year...

Government urges all tax Payers to pay Appropriate taxes and to disclose their True income within the Current Financial Year...

A Compliance Management Cell has been set-up to Ensure Follow-up Action and Track Return Filing and Tax Payment of the Target Segment; 70,000 Letters are being sent in 2 Batches to High Priority Cases in this Month

The Union Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram has repeatedly emphasized that there is need for a non–intrusive tax administration to enable the tax payer to file his/her return and pay appropriate taxes.

In the statement made by the Revenue Secretary, Government of India to the media on 11th February 2013, he had mentioned that the Directorate of Systems has undertaken a business intelligence project to identify PAN holders who have not filed Income Tax Return and about whom specific information is available in Annual Information Return (AIR), Central Information Branch (CIB) data and TDS/TCS Returns. Information in the Cash Transaction Reports (CTRs) of FIU-IND was also included as part of this data matching exercise. This data analysis has identified target segment of 12,19,832 non-filers linked to more than 4.7 crore information records. Rule based algorithms were used to identify high priority cases for follow-up and monitoring.

Letters were sent in three batches to 1,05,000 high priority cases seeking to know whether the person had filed his Income Tax return or not. The letter contained the summary of the information of financial transaction(s) along with a customized response sheet.

Preliminary assessment of the results show that a large number of taxpayers have filed return of income and paid self assessment tax after initiation of this exercise. Taxes of more than Rs. 600 crore has been paid as self assessment tax and advance tax by the target segment in last three months.

This exercise is now being expanded and a compliance management cell has been set up to ensure follow-up action and track return filing and tax payment of the target segment. Another 70,000 letters are being sent in 2 batches to other high priority cases in this month, of these, the first batch of 35,000 letters has been dispatched on 20/5/2013.

This data analysis initiative has also helped in defining the scope and requirements of a comprehensive Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence (DW & BI) Project of the Income Tax Department. The DW&BI Project will develop a comprehensive integrated platform for effective utilisation of available and accessible information to promote voluntary compliance, deter non-compliance and impart confidence that all eligible persons pay appropriate tax. The project will integrate enterprise data warehouse, data mining, web mining, predictive modelling, data exchange, master data management, centralised processing, compliance risk management and case analysis capabilities.

Government once again urges all tax payers to disclose their true income and pay appropriate taxes within the current financial year.

New procedures/forms for filling Income Tax returns

New ITR Filing Procedure

The Government proposes to introduce new procedures/forms for filling Income Tax returns. Every year government notifies forms for filing of income-tax returns after incorporating the changes brought out by the Finance Act of the previous year and the suggestions received from stakeholders. The new forms for filing of income tax returns for the assessment year 2013-14 are proposed to be notified by the end of March, 2013.

This was stated by Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S.Palanimanickam, in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

IT Department Urges Taxpayers to Pay all Self- Assessment Tax Dues by 31ST March

IT Department Urges Taxpayers to Pay all Self- Assessment Tax Dues by 31ST March

The Income-tax Act requires that the tax payable on the returned income after taking into account prepaid taxes, should be paid before furnishing the return. An analysis of returns filed electronically in the current Financial Year (2012-13) reveals that nearly 73,388 taxpayers have defaulted on such payments aggregating to Rs. 3,859 crore.

Income-tax Department urges all taxpayers who have filed their returns in the current financial year and have defaulted on payment of self-assessment tax of any amount, to immediately come forward and pay the due taxes before 31st March, 2013. Further, any taxpayer who files his return in the future, and on self-assessment indicates a certain amount of tax payable, should pay such tax while filing the return.

Filing a return without paying the admitted amount of tax that is payable will render such taxpayer an ‘assessee in default’ under the provisions of the Income-tax Act. Such taxpayers who default in payment of self-assessment tax may invite penal consequences.