NO INDIVIDUAL RETURN FILED ONLINE
Not even a single individual return has been filed online, according
to Income Tax (I-T) department. There is separate assessing officer
in the department to look after the individual returns that have
been filed online. The 'systems' division of the department that
handles the data on the same said it has not received any online
return so far. "So far we have not come across any instance where an
individual has filed the return through online facility", said one
senior official on condition of anonymity. There are close to three
lakh individual assesses in Lucknow. This category of tax assesses
include those who get income from salary, income from
proprietorship, income from interest (like pension) and those who
have income from partnership in firms. The version of the department
negates the claim of lawyers and chartered accountants. Many people
filed their returns with the help of these professionals this time.
According to professional opinion, at least five percent of
individual returns have been filed electronically. However, when
asked to comment on official version, professionals maintained that
it is difficult to give exact figures for individual returns. "It is
difficult to say anything with confirmation", said Rohit Bhalla, a
chartered accountant. Whatever be the figures, it does not portend
well for the department which has ambitious 'online' plans for the
future. "It is not having knowledge about computers that causes a
difference but penetration of technology which is very low. It is
only when the average tax payer, uses the facility that we can say
we are ready to go online", added an official. Online filing is the
facility where returns can be submitted electronically from home,
cybercafe or workplace. But, what is needed is digital signature to
authenticate the return form. However, most of the assesses do not
have digital signatures. For those who have filed their returns
online but do not possess digital signature, an acknowledgement
receipt which is generated by the computer needs to be signed and
submitted personally with the department. But this cannot be termed
as online filing. It was only for corporates and partnership firms
(having income exceeding Rs 40 lakh) that 100 percent returns came
online. This is because online filing is mandatory for both the
category. For individuals it is optional. Although officials do not
confirm that new categories will to be added to the mandatory list
there is no denying that more people will be brought within the
fold. Individuals with more than Rs 40 lakh as income may be
included in the list from next year
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