The deadline for filing income tax return (ITR) for the financial year 2023-24 (assessment year 2024-25) is July 31, 2024. While some taxpayers must have already filed their returns, others are facing delays due to issues with the e-filing portal.
This has raised the question: will the deadline be extended this time?
What's going on?
The e-filing portal has been plagued with technical glitches, prompting a wave of complaints from taxpayers on social media.
Several chartered accountant associations have also raised concerns.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has been proactive in addressing these issues.
On July 5, 2024, ICAI wrote to the Income Tax Department regarding concerns related to Form 26AS, TIS, AIS, and the e-filing process.
Key issues faced by taxpayers
• Difficulty accessing Form 26AS/AIS/TIS: Taxpayers have reported discrepancies between figures in these statements.
• Downloading filed ITR receipts: Many users are unable to download their filed ITR receipts.
• Error messages: Frequent error messages during the ITR filing process.
• Mismatch in pre-filled data: Inconsistencies between pre-filled data and actual data.
• Technical glitches: Persistent technical problems with the e-filing portal, including slow performance and inaccurate display of tax credits.
So, will the deadline be extended?
Yeeshu Sehgal, Head of Tax Markets at AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm, mentioned that the decision to extend the deadline rests with the government.
As of now, there has been no announcement regarding an extension.
It is noteworthy that the deadline for filing ITR without penalty was not extended in the last two financial years, despite similar issues.
Therefore, taxpayers are advised not to wait and to file their ITR as soon as possible.
What to do in case of difficulties?
Taxpayers facing difficulties should get in touch with experts and chartered accountants for assistance.
Several websites offer self-filing options, such as TaxBuddy, ClearTax, and others. Currently, TaxBuddy has announced a special "Filing Mahotsav" campaign.
Till July 25, taxpayers can get 25% discount on all assisted ITR filing services on TaxBuddy portal.
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