Tax payers can file ITR till 10th January, deadline extended

The deadline to file Income Tax Return (ITR) for individual tax payers of assessment year 2020-21 (FY 2019-20) has been extended from December 31 to January 10, 2021. Through a press release this information has been issued by the Income Tax Department from its official Twitter handle.

“In view of the continued challenges faced by taxpayers in meeting statutory compliances due to outbreak of COVID-19, the Govt further extends the dates for various compliances. Press release on extension of time limits issued today,” the Income Tax department said in a tweet.

Also, the due date of furnishing GST for FY20 has been extended to 28 Feb, 2021.

The deadline for companies and individuals who need to get their accounts audited too have been extended by 15 days till February 15, the finance ministry said in a statement.

The last date for filing ITR by individuals and companies was December 31, 2020, and January 31, 2021, respectively.

Till December 28, more than 4.54 crore ITRs for 2019-20 fiscal (assessment year 2020-21) were filed. In the comparable period last year, 4.77 crore income tax returns were filed.

At the close of deadline for filing ITRs without payment of late fees for fiscal 2018-19 (assessment year 2019-20), over 5.65 crore returns were filed by taxpayers.

The income tax department tweeted that the extension in various deadline was given in view of the continued challenges faced by taxpayers in meeting statutory compliances due to the outbreak of COVID-19.