I-T portal hiccups still haunt taxpayers

EVEN as the deadlines for filing of certain returns come to a close on June 30, the glitches relating to the newly launched Income Tax department's portal continue to haunt the taxpayers. June 30 is the deadline for renewal of registration of religious and charitable trusts and institutions under Section 80G and new section 12AB applicable with effect from April 1. However, many trusts and institutions could not apply for renewal of 12A/80G registration as Form No 10A is not functional on the new income tax portal.

Further, many people are not able to file return in response to notice for reassessment under section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Its due date was earlier extended up to June 30 due to the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. However, since the return filing facility is not properly functional on the new income tax portal, its compliance due date should be extended, feel the experts.

The issue of glitches relating to the newly launched income tax portal will be resolved by the month-end. This was the promise made by the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman after her interaction with the officials of Infosys (developer of the new income tax portal), on June 22.

Infosys officials informed during the meeting that their team is continuously engaged to resolve the technical glitches and most of the issues are expected to be resolved in a week.

Talking to Bizz Buzz, the national president of All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP), M Srinivas Rao said: "The new income tax portal was expected to be completely operational from June 7. Still, there are technical glitches in the new portal, which required immediate resolution by Infosys and Finance Ministry jointly."

AIFTP has requested that the registration/re-registration facility for charitable and religious trusts and institutions should be made available on the new income tax portal.

SR Wadhwa, the former Income tax settlement commission chairman and the current direct tax representation committee chairman of AIFTP says, "E-proceedings tab on the new income tax portal should be activated on priority basis for completion of assessment and penalty proceedings in timely manner, for which June 30 is the due date."

The AIFTP has urged the FM, Prime Minister of India and Chairman CBDT to extend all statutory dates until September 30 or October 31 for the convenience of taxpayers and professionals across the country and further the assessment year 2020-21 revised returns due date may also be extended up to August 31 for the convenience of taxpayers and tax professionals due to the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic in and around the country.