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Journalism of Courage
The Income Tax Department has come to the rescue of taxpayers who were unable to file their tax returns online on the due date,as a result of the massive power outage in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Tuesday extended the deadline for e-filing the tax return by one month. Taxpayers will be able to file their returns until August 31.
From the Assessment Year 2012-13,the CBDT has made it mandatory for individuals and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) with income above Rs 10 lakh to file income tax returns electronically. With the power outage throwing life out of gear,it would be difficult to file returns online in time.
On consideration of the reports of disturbance of general life caused due to failure of power and further in consideration of the fact that the e-filing of returns for a specified category of individuals and HUF has been made mandatory,the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)… has extended the due date of filing of returns of income for the Assessment Year 2012-13 to 31st August 2012, the CBDT statement said.
Further,the department also relaxed norms for mandatory e-filing.
It will not be compulsory for agents of non-residents to electronically furnish return of non-residents for assessment year 2012-13 even if their total income exceeds Rs 10 lakh.
Private discretionary trusts have also been exempted from mandatory e-filing of returns for assessment year 2012-13.
The I-T department is expecting more than 60 per cent of tax ayers to file return electronically given by simplicity of the forms and ease of electronic filing,the CBDT said.
Last year,of around 4 crore tax payers in the country,1.64 crore tax payers filed e-returns.
