Income Tax Return Deadline for FY21 Extended to 30 September

In view of the hardship being faced by taxpayers on account of the severe COVID-19 pandemic and on consideration of representations received from various stakeholders, the government has decided to provide further relief to taxpayers by extending various time limits of compliances.

Accordingly, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has now extended the due date for furnishing of return of income for the assessment year 2021-22, which is 31 July 2021 by couple of months to 30 September 2021.

Similarly, the board has also extended the due date of furnishing of report of audit under any provision of the Income Tax Act for the previous year 2020-21, to 31 October 2021 from the earlier deadline of 30 September 2021.

Also, the income tax department has extended by a month the time limit for furnishing statement of financial transactions (SFT) by companies to 30 June 2021 from earlier deadline of 31 May.

A month's extension has also been given to taxpayer companies to submit the statement of reportable account for the calendar year 2020. This can now be submitted upto to 30 June 2021 from earlier 31 May 2021.

Continuing with its exercise to ease compliance burden, the CBDT has also said that the statement of deduction of tax for the last quarter of the financial year 2020-21, which is required to be furnished on or before 31 May 2021 may now be furnished on or before 30 June 2021.

The CBDT has also provided more time to employers to issue certificate of tax deducted at source in Form 16. It is now required to be furnished to the employee by on or before 15 July 2021 against earlier 15 June 2021.

The compliance related to TDS/TCS book adjustment statement in Form No 24G for the month of May 2021, has also been eased. It was required to be furnished on or before 15 June 2021 and can now, be furnished on or before 30 June 2021.

The CBDT has also extended the date for furnishing the statement of deduction of tax from contributions paid by the trustees of an approved superannuation fund for the financial year 2020-21. It was required to be sent on or before 31 May 2021 and can now be sent on or before 30 June 2021.

Similarly, the statement of income paid or credited by an investment fund to its unit holder in Form No 64D for the previous year 2020-21, which is required to be furnished on or before 15 June 2021 has been extended to on or before 30 June 2021.

Continuing with its exercise to ease compliance burden, the CBDT also said that the statement of income paid or credited by an investment fund to its unit holder in Form No 64C for the previous year 2020-21, which is required to be furnished on or before 30 June 2021 can now be furnished on or before 15 July 2021.

The tax department has also given more time to companies to file their income tax return. Accordingly, the due date of furnishing of return of income for the assessment year 2021-22, which is 31 October 2021 for them has been extended by a month to 30 November 2021.

For another category of taxpayers who had the due due date of furnishing of return of income for the assessment year 2021-22, for 30 November 2021 can now do so by 31 December 2021.

Also, the due date of furnishing report from an accountant by persons entering into international transaction or specified domestic transaction under section 92E of the Act for the previous year 2020-21, which is 31 October 2021, is extended to 30 November 2021.

The tax department has also given more time to taxpayers who are already late in filing their returns. So, the due date of furnishing of belated/revised return of income for the assessment year 2021-22, which is 31 December 2021 has been extended to 31 January 2022.

The relaxations are the latest among the recent initiatives taken by the government to ease compliances to be made by the taxpayers with the aim to grant respite during these difficult times.

The government had also relaxed few tax compliance related issues on 1 May.

(Published in arrangement with IANS)