The deadline for filing income tax returns for the assessment year 2021-2022 has again been extended till March 15, 2022, the Union finance ministry announced on Tuesday.
This time, the extension has been provided after considering the difficulties reported by taxpayers due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the country and in e-filing of various reports of audit under the provision of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the ministry said in a statement.
“On consideration of difficulties reported by taxpayers/stakeholders due to Covid & in e-filing of Audit reports for AY 2021-22 under the IT Act, 1961, CBDT further extends due dates for filing of Audit reports & ITRs for AY 21-22,” the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said.
However, the due date already expired on December 31, 2021 for individual and other taxpayers and the extension does not apply to them, according to a report by business publication Livemint. It is only for those taxpayers “whose book of accounts are required to be audited under any law like Companies Act, Societies Act, LLP Act or income tax act,” the report quoted an expert as saying.
Further, the ministry also announced that the last day for submitting tax audit reports has been extended to February 15, 2022.
As of December 31, 2021, 5.89 crore ITRs have been filed, the Centre had previously said. “Nearly 5.89 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) have been filed on the new e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department as on 31st December, 2021, the extended due date. More than 46.11 lakh ITRs were filed on 31.12.2021,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
