The Bikaner Tax Consultants Association, a leading body of chartered accountants and tax advocates in the Bikaner region, has formally requested an extension of the Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadline. In a letter dated July 20, 2024, addressed to Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, the Hon'ble Finance Minister, the Association has highlighted significant issues faced by taxpayers and professionals due to technical glitches in the Income Tax Department (ITD) portal and anomalies concerning Section 87A of the Income Tax Act. The letter calls for an extension of the filing deadline to mitigate the current challenges and ensure accurate and timely submissions.

The primary concern raised by the Bikaner Tax Consultants Association is the technical disruptions experienced with the ITD portal over the past week. These glitches have rendered crucial documents such as Form 26AS, Annual Information Statements (AIS), and Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) details inaccessible. The deadline for filing ITRs for non-auditable cases is set for July 31, 2024, coinciding with the due dates for TDS returns and GSTR-3B under the GST regime. The association requests an extension of the ITR filing deadline to August 31, 2024, to provide relief to taxpayers and professionals who are currently unable to complete their filings due to these issues.

Additionally, the letter addresses an anomaly related to Section 87A, which provides a rebate to taxpayers with income up to Rs. 7 lakhs. Recent changes in the ITD utility have inadvertently excluded taxpayers under the new tax regime (Section 115BAC) from receiving this rebate. This discrepancy has created difficulties for professionals and taxpayers, contradicting the government's mandate to offer marginal relief to all eligible taxpayers. The Association urges the Finance Minister to address this issue and issue suitable directives to rectify the anomaly.

The Bikaner Tax Consultants Association's appeal underscores the urgency of addressing technical and procedural challenges impacting taxpayers and professionals. By extending the ITR filing deadline and resolving the Section 87A anomaly, the government can provide necessary relief and ensure a smoother tax filing process. The prompt attention and intervention of the Finance Minister are crucial in mitigating the current difficulties and supporting the efficient functioning of the taxation system.

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BIKANER TAX CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION
A-6, 2nd Adarsh Colony, Near Gupta Agency. Bikaner 334001. (Raj)

Manak Kochar
(FCA )
President
Mob.9414138983

Deepak Vyas
(Advocate)
Secretary
Mob.9414136941

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman
Hon'ble Finance Minister,
Government of India ,
New Delhi

Date:- 20/07/2024

Subject:- Request for Extension of Income Tax Return Filing Deadline due to Issues Faced by Taxpayers and Professionals due to Glitches in ITD Portal and removal of controversy over section 87A.

Hon'ble Madam,

We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. We are willing to bring to your kind attention certain concerns and challenges faced by businesses and taxpayers in relation to a burning issue that is significantly impacting taxpayers and professionals across the country. As a Joint Body of Chartered Accountants and Tax Advocates for Bikaner region, We believe that addressing these issues is crucial for the overall success and efficiency of the Taxation system. At present the following issues are crucial:-

Request to extend due date for filling ITR

First of all, we would like to request your good self that the last date of filing the returns of income in the non-auditable cases is 31st July, 2024. The glitches and technical issues for the last one week in the Income Tax Department (ITD) portal have resulted in the unavailability of critical documents such as Form 26AS, Annual Information Statements (AIS), and Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) details. These technical disruptions have created immense challenges for taxpayers and professionals alike, particularly as the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns in non-auditable cases approaches. It is noteworthy that the deadline coincides with the due date for filing TDS returns on 31st July, and also aligns with the last date for filing GSTR-3B under the GST regime. In light of these circumstances, we humbly request your intervention to consider our problem and accordingly direct the concern Authorities to resort the problem immediately so that the professional and taxpayers may file their returns as early as possible and further to extend the last date for filing of Income Tax Returns in non-auditable cases to 31s` August 2024. Such an extension would provide much-needed relief to taxpayers and professionals who are currently unable to access crucial information and complete their filings accurately and on time. Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated and would help alleviate the burden on taxpayers and professionals during this challenging period.

Anomaly over rebate u/s 87A  :-

On July 5th 2024 changes in ITD utility has created an anomaly over section 87A by not allowing the rebate to the assessee who are covered under the special rate of tax u/s 115BAC under the new regime of taxation (which is now by default taxation scheme). This anomaly has created another hardship for the professionals to file the ITR's. We truly understand that GOI mandate is very clear to provide the marginal relief to all taxpayers up to income limit of Rs. 7 lacs without any discrimination of rate of tax. It is pertinent to mention here that the taxpayers who are covered under special tax rate specially those covered under long term and short term capital gain are contributing to the exchequer in many ways I.e. STT, stamp duty, transaction tax and many more. Therefore your honor is requested to remove this anomaly by giving suitable direction to the authorities.

With Regards.
Yours Faithfully,
For Bikaner Tax Consultants Association,