Extend due date  of filing TAR for FY 2020-21 till 31st Mar 2022: BJP Economy Cell

BJP Economy Cell requests for due date extension of filing ITR & TAR for FY 2020-21

Economy Cell has requested Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Hon’ble Finance Minister)  to extend the due dates for submitting of various Audit Reports & Income Tax Returns for Tax Audit cases under the Income Tax Act.

Economy Cell Requests an extension of the Tax Audit and other audit-related Due dates and we request your good self to be kind enough to grant an extension at least for a month.

Below is a copy of the Representation Submitted :

Shri J.B. Mohapatra,
Chairman – Central Board of Direct Taxes,
Ministry of Finance,
Government of India,
North Block, New Delhi -110001

Sub: Request to consider extension of due date of furnishing of Report of Audit under provision of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for the A. Y. 2021-22.

Dear Sir,

The Economic Cell of BJP Rajasthan has been playing an important role in promoting and expanding the vision of BJP leaders for making India a world leader through economic excellence.

Through this letter, we wish to bring to your kind attention, issues and concerns faced by the esteemed members of Economic Cell comprising of various Chartered Accountants, other finance & tax professionals and traders, manufacturers, and service providers due to constraints of the statutory timeline of 15.01.2022 for furnishing Report of Audit under the provision of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Act) for the Assessment Year (A.Y.) 2021-2022 due to various reasons in these COVID situation.

Introduction/Background

1. It is noticed that the CBDT did suo-moto extend the various due dates under the Income-tax law vide Press Release dated 09.09.2021. It was, inter alia, specified that the due date of furnishing of Report of Audit under any provision of the Act for the A.Y. 2021-2022 would be 15.01.2022. Due dates for furnishing non-audit ITRs was also extended from July 31st 2021 to December 31st 2021.

2. As on the even date, certain forms like Form No. 3CEB are not available on the IT Portal. In filling up the other forms, difficulties are encountered. As regards, certain other forms like lOC, 108, difficulties are still continuing.

3. Further, considering the current situation of lockdowns and extremely fast spread COVID19 and consistent issues being faced in the operation of the new portal, compliance is meeting with hindrances.

4. In the matter of audits including tax audits, the ICAI members have onerous responsibility to maintain and enhance quality of reports. The prime objective of tax audit is to assist the assessing officer to determine income from business or profession. It is also necessary to emphasize for your kind appreciation that in the context of audit requirements, the Chartered Accountants are also the stakeholders.

5. Clustering of due dates have also added to the problems already faced.

Issues and concerns

1. COVID spread causing lockdowns and hampering normal working. In many cities and states, the COVID cases are drastically increasing and various restrictions are imposed like week end curfew, working with 50% capacity in offices. There has been spread of virus with an exponential speed and we are officially suffering from the third wave of this pandemic.

2. Tax Audit also involves discussion & consultation between the clients & staff on one hand & CA & its team on the other hand. This process has been restricted from past several months due to restrictions following pandemic.

3. There are numerous errors reported even after uploading of tax audit reports in various forms like form 3CB-3CD, 3CA,3CD which will give rise to avoidable litigations which can be avoided by making the portal error free and proper working is ensured.

4. Forms such as 29B are not made available by the Income Tax Department.

5. Withdrawal of AIS has been done just a few days back.

6. There has been change in schema of audit reports on 06.01.2021 which is causing undue diffculties to the members as the already prepared audit reports are to be revised again for proper uploading. The changed schema has not been incorporated by the various software providers till now. Change in schema in unjustifiable at these times when last date is approaching.

Suggestion

In view of the above, it is humbly requested that last date for filing of tax audit report should be extended to 31-03-2022 along with waiver of the penalty and other consequences for filing tax audit reports and other reports/certificates for AV 2021-22 till 31st March, 2022.

It is also requested that Interest u/s 234F should also be suspended till 31-03-2022.

We hope that our suggestions would be favorably considered. We would be happy to deliberate on the matter albeit virtually, if considered necessary by your good office.

For Official Copy of Representation Download PDF Given Below: