Pressure is mounting on the income tax department to grant extra time to people for filing income tax returns on account of changes brought in the format of tax returns as well as in the tax deducted at source (TDS) certificates issued by employers and the TDS returns to be filed by employers with the tax department.

For filing returns for assessment year 2019-20 relating to income earned in the financial year 2018-19, the last date is 31 July. The tax department usually allows an extension for a few days if the public faces any difficulty in meeting the deadline and a longer extension for assessees in states in case there are exceptional events like a natural calamity. Taxpayers as well as employers have to pay special attention this year on account of the changes in the forms.

A survey of over 10,000 citizens conducted by community social media platform Local Circles released on Friday showed that the deadline of 31 July

for filing income tax returns is causing some discomfort. It showed that 39% of over 7,800 people who chose to answer a question on Form 16 said they have not yet received it from their employer. The survey was conducted across 146 locations in the country. It also showed that 49% of the over 8,000 people who chose to answer a query on how they were placed for filing returns before the last date, either said it was almost impossible or it would be an effort filing before the deadline. About 28% said it was almost impossible. Sachin Taparia, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Local Circles, said the narrow time gap between receiving Form 16 from employers and the tax return filing deadline had been repeatedly shared by citizens in discussions in the community. #casansaar (Source - LiveMint)