ITR DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 5

The government on Monday extended the deadline for filing Income-Tax Returns to August 5. The CBDT issued a statement saying the date has been extended on receipt of complaints from “some taxpayers” that they were unable to log on to the e-filing website of the I-T department.

Union finance ministry on Monday extended the last date for filing of income tax return by five days to August 5 for what it called “to ease-out the panic situation” as people continued to face problem in e-filing of their returns.

It also gave people more time for actual linking their PAN with Aadhaar for filing of income-tax returns.

For the purpose of e-filing return, finance ministry said it would be sufficient as of now to quote Aadhaar or acknowledgement number for having applied for Aadhaar in efiling 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,” it said.

The ministry said that there were some complaints that the taxpayers are not being able to log on to the e-filing website of I-T 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,” it said.

Earlier people slammed the I-T department on social media platform for snag in its website for efiling of tax returns. “Facebook can handle million of users continuously, but income tax cant,” tweeted one user.

■ FINANCE MINISTRY said that there were some complaints that the taxpayers are not being able to log on to the e-filing website of I-T department or not being able to link Aadhaar with PAN because of different names reflected in PAN and Aadhaar