As the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) approaches on July 31, 2024, taxpayers across India have accelerated their filing processes. According to recent updates from the Income Tax Department, over 2.7 crore ITRs have been filed as of July 14, 2024, marking a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Daily filings peaked at over 13 lakhs on July 13, underscoring the urgency as the deadline approaches sooner than in previous years.
Technical Glitches Plague E-Filing Portal
However, amidst the rush, taxpayers have faced significant challenges with the income-tax e-filing portal. Reports of technical glitches have flooded social media platforms, prompting widespread frustration among filers.
ICAI Raises Concerns
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has actively engaged with the Income Tax Department regarding these challenges. In a letter dated July 5, 2024, Chartered Accountant Piyush S Chhajed, Chairman of the Direct Taxes Committee, highlighted issues concerning Form 26AS/TIS/AIS and the e-filing process.
1. Difficulty in accessing Form 26AS/AIS/TIS and discrepancy between figures in the statements: Due to glitches in the income-tax e-filing portal, many taxpayers are facing difficulty in accessing Form 26AS/AIS. Sometimes there is variance in figures of the same nature in TIS and AIS. Also, joint income gets reported in the statement of both joint account holders, leading to scrutiny notices in spite of taxpayers intimating the same on time.
2. Limited Response Options in AIS/TIS: Currently, the AIS/TIS portal provides taxpayers with a set of options to respond to the information reflected in these statements. Sometimes, these options may not be adequate to accurately capture the taxpayer's specific situation or response. There may be a residuary option, "Others", which allows taxpayers to provide detailed comments and explanations. This option may also enable taxpayers to upload supporting documents and attachments to substantiate their responses.
3. Delayed Update of Responses in TIS: Many taxpayers have reported that even after updating their responses in the MS, the corresponding changes do not appear in the TIS promptly.
4. Technical Glitches on the Income-tax e-filing Portal: There are some technical glitches in the income tax e-filing portal such as continuous buffering due to which there is difficulty in completing the form filling.
5. Mismatch in Pre-filled Data: There are instances of mismatch in pre-filled data in the income-tax return and the salary, interest income, TDS etc. as per Form 26AS.
6. Dividend Income Reflection in Schedule OS: There is some difficulty in the reflection of dividend income in Schedule OS for taxpayers having business income. The current utility mandates that the income be reflected and then reduced from business income before showing it in Schedule OS. The utility may be updated to allow for the correct reflection of dividend income in Schedule OS without requiring it to be first included and then reduced from business income.
7. Error Messages during ITR Filing: Taxpayers are reporting that error messages appear while attempting to file their nits, which delay the successful submission of returns.
8. Non-Receipt of OTPs for Authentication: There have been instances where the One Time Password (OTP) required for authentication is not received promptly or at all leading to failed attempts in verifying and submitting the return.
9. Difficulty in downloading filed ITR Receipts: Some taxpayers are also facing problems in downloading acknowledgement of ITRs filed, which serve as proof of submission of ITR and are essential for taxpayers to validate their compliance.
Looking Ahead
Despite these challenges, taxpayers are advised to continue their efforts to meet the July 31 deadline. The Income Tax Department has assured stakeholders of ongoing efforts to resolve portal issues swiftly. For the latest updates and assistance, taxpayers are encouraged to monitor official communications and utilize available support channels.
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