No word on extension of I-T returns deadline

Hundreds of people queued up at Gayathri Vihar, on Palace Grounds here on Tuesday, the last day to file income tax (I-T) returns for the financial year 2011-12.

Calculators and Income Tax Returns (ITR) forms were out in large numbers. Officials claimed that thousands of people had filed returns in the last week and said that they had received no intimation about extending the dates, which was done last year.

Additional Commissioner Prakash Kumar told Deccan Herald: “Over 60,000 people have filed their returns manually over the last week and we expect the number to cross 75,000 by the end of the day.” Kumar said the number excluded those who filed the returns through the e-filing facility.

He said the centralised processing centre (CPC) had already processed 1.32 crore returns and the number of refunds issued was 47.14 lakh, amounting to Rs 13,458 crore.

Last year, close to one lakh people had filed their returns at the Palace Grounds, compared to this year’s 60,000-75,000. But officials pointed out that the counters were in place for over 20 days last year, including the extension.

Abhay Srinivasan, an HR professional, said: “Availability of the services of the I-T personnel on the spot reduces the dependence on private agencies and also helps us save on the money we pay to such consultants.” 

Queries galore

In line with his observation, the help desks saw scores of people asking queries on the various procedures.

I-T officials said that last year, the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) collection was Rs 15,000 crore. Of the Rs 20,000 crore target this year, the department had already achieved Rs 5,000 crore. 

Around 10 per cent of the total TDS contribution to the national exchequer is from Karnataka.