I-T Department Extends Deadline For Return Filing of Audit Reports by November 7

The business entities had also cited non-availability of clerical staff at chartered accountants' offices after the rollout of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

New Delhi, October 31: The Income Tax Department on Tuesday extended the dates for filing income tax returns and audit reports. The taxpayers and business entities who were eligible to file audit reports on October 30 can file it until November 7 this year. Many people had sought an extension for filing their returns.

A senior official of the department said the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) took the decision to extend the deadline by a week. The decision was taken after meeting delegations of various stakeholders in recent days. It is the second extension given to them after the first deadline expired on September 30. Later, it was extended till October 31.

Tax practitioner bodies had sought an extension from the government. The entities argued they needed more time to file returns for business bodies where tax audit report or transfer pricing report or other audit reports are prescribed to be filled. They had also cited non-availability of clerical staff at chartered accountants’ offices after the rollout of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

“This year, professionals are busy in making compliance with GST obligations… the technical glitches in the system have aggravated the problems,” a federation had said in a representation to the Central Board of Direct Taxes.