Government Rejects Demand For Further Extension Of Returns Filing Date Beyond Feb. 15

The finance ministry on Monday rejected the demand for further extension of the last date for filing returns where an audit is required beyond Feb. 15.

Last month, the government had extended the income tax return filing deadline for individuals till Jan. 10, and for companies till Feb. 15.

"CBDT passes order u/s 119 of Income-tax Act, 1961 in F No. 370153/39/2020-TPL dt 11th January, 2021, disposing off the representations for extension of due date for filing of Audit Report u/s 44AB, in compliance with the order of hon'ble Gujarat High Court dt 8th January, 2021," the income tax department said in a tweet.

This was in response to the Gujarat High Court order dated Jan. 8, 2021 in the case of The All India Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants versus Union of India directing the finance ministry to look into the issue of extension of due dates for filing of audit report under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act.

As per the provisions of the Act, the due date for filing of the audit report under Section 44AB is one month prior to the due date of filing of income tax return, it said.

The due dates for payment of self assessment tax for taxpayers whose amount due does not exceed Rs 1 lakh also coincide with the due dates for filing of ITR, it said.

On Dec. 30, 2020, the government had announced extension of the last dates for filing of returns by individuals to Jan. 10, 2021 from Dec. 31, 2020.

In case of return for tax audit cases, the date was extended to Feb. 15 from the earlier Jan. 31. It was for the third time the tax department extended the dates.