The Sales Tax Bar Association has appealed to the Finance Ministry to prolong the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns. Currently set for July 31, 2023, the association has urged for an extension, suggesting that the due date be moved to at least August 31, 2023. As of now, the Central Government has not deliberated on the possibility of extending the due date.
The Sales Tax Bar Association is among the most longstanding and prominent organizations of tax professionals in the country.
The Bar Association and its members both see themselves as essential parts of the tax administration, working to make sure that the government is given the proper and necessary taxes that are necessary for the social programmes that help citizens. Nearly all of this association’s members work in conformity with the Income Tax Act.
The association alerted the ministry to the flood situation in Delhi. Due to exceptional circumstances, the Income Tax offices at ITO as well as other locations are now closed. As a result, it is virtually impossible for many individuals to file their income tax returns by the current deadline date.
“We, therefore, sincerely pray that due date for submission of Income Tax Returns be extended at least by one month i.e., up to 31st August 2023 at lease in flood affected areas so that professionals are not put to undue stress for timely compliances”.
Recently in an interview, the Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra has urged the taxpayers to file the returns before the due date, which is very much clear that the government is not going to extend the deadline.
However, as the Sales Tax Bar Association emphasised in its request, the government ought to take into account the unexpected circumstances that taxpayers and professionals are currently dealing with. Another problem that contributes to the late filing of ITRs is the technological issues with the income tax portal. The same is not a problem for either taxpayers or professionals.
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