The volume of income-tax applications has increased after the department has made it mandatory for all those who earn over Rs 10 lakh per annum or own assets abroad to file their returns online, causing the department's website to crash intermittently as several assessees try to register before the due date. 

But income-tax officers and employees have been helping taxpayers negotiate countdown to their annual income-tax returns allweek.Tuesday,July 31, is the last day to file returns. "Application volume has surged, causing the department's website to crash intermittently as several assessees try to register before the due date," said chartered accountant Ashit Desai who could log on in his third try. 

There is hope for those who miss the July-31 deadline. The I-T PRO said, "Those who have nooutstanding taxes may file their returns after the date, but those who owe tax will have to pay interest on the amount." 

The virtual migration has resulted in considerably fewer assessees at the BKCoffice. "The office at BKC is the one-point form collection centre for salaried people. Businesspersons and those having other source sof income can visit I-Toffices in their areas," said a helpdesk officer. 

Unlike previous years,when long queues were visible at tax collection counters, a trickle of applicants arrived last week. On Monday,the penultimate day for filing, an average of three or four persons could be seen at each collection counter in BKC. 

For the first time,the department had installed tax kiosks manned by tax return preparers (TRPs) to help people fill forms and do basic calculations. The kiosks functioned for three days last week across 12 locations including Andheri, Byculla,Bandra and Navi Mumbai. 

Consultation was available free of cost but the TRPs were not authorized to accept returns.They were neither I-T department staffers nor, in some cases,chartered accountants.Assessees had to still visit I-T offices at BKC or Aaykar Bhavan to do so,or assign the task to a CA.But they could engage TRPs for Rs 250. Asthehelpdeskwas not adequately publicized, few took advantage. "This is the first year we are reaching out, and the aim is to show we are not mere collectors but render service to taxpayers," said Anand Mudaliar, who oversaw the kiosk at Vidya VikasHall, Andheri. ((Times of India))