Look into plea for extending I-T returns deadline: HC

The High Court on Monday disposed of a petition filed by Karnataka State Chartered Accountants’ Association which had sought directions to extend the time allotted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) for a month to file income tax (I-T) returns.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna disposed of the petition by directing Central government and CBDT to consider the application of the association. The petitioner had written to CBDT to extend time beyond September 30 to file income tax return for companies, firms, individuals and businessmen.

The CBDT had refused to consider the petitioner’s application.

Audit required
The petitioners had contended that the accounts of the income taxpayers were required to be audited in terms of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The CBDT had extended the last date to file returns for taxpayers not liable for audit under the I-T Act till August 31 and later up to September 7 from the usual deadline of July 31 as CBDT delayed in notifying the I-T return forms. The petitioners had sought similar extension for other categories of taxpayers too.