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Accountants Plead for Tax Filing Deadline Extension Amid Technical Woes
8 Sep
Summary
- Chartered accountants and trade bodies urge tax department to extend filing deadline
- Technical glitches, late form releases, and natural disasters slowing compliance work
- Professionals face mounting pressure as September 15 deadline approaches
As the September 15 deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITRs) in India approaches, tax professionals across the country are facing mounting pressure. Chartered accountants and trade bodies have urgently appealed to the Income Tax Department to extend the deadline, citing widespread technical glitches, late release of forms, and even natural disasters that have significantly slowed down compliance work.
The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) and the Chartered Accountants Association, Surat (CAAS) have both written separate letters to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), pressing for relief. Both groups have pointed out that the tax filing system is riddled with delays and breakdowns, making it nearly impossible for taxpayers and professionals to complete their filings on time.
FKCCI has stated that major changes introduced in ITR forms, combined with repeated portal failures, have "compromised the ability of taxpayers and professionals to comply with timelines." CAAS, meanwhile, has gone a step further, criticizing the CBDT for what it calls administrative indifference and highlighting that ITR-5, 6, and 7 utilities were rolled out only between August 8 and 21, leaving auditors with just over 40 days to complete the most time-consuming compliance exercise of the year.
The association has also pointed to recent floods in several states, which have left many offices shut due to power outages, stranded staff, and damaged infrastructure. In its letter, CAAS has stressed that the problem is not with taxpayers but with the system itself, and it has demanded "time compensation" to make up for the lost days instead of a mere extension.
With the festive season approaching, CAAS has also argued that expecting statutory work during holidays is unfair and demoralizing for professionals who are already struggling with half-functional utilities. So far, the Income Tax Department has not issued any statement in response to these appeals, but as the deadline draws closer, pressure is building for the government to act.
