F.No.153/53/2014-TPL
(Pt.I)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)
North Block, TPL Division,
New Delhi
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE)
(CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES)
North Block, TPL Division,
New Delhi
Dated:
September 26, 2014
PRESS
RELEASE
Subject:
Extension of due date for filing of Return of Income from 30th Sept, 2014 to 30
th Nov, 2014 in specified cases, regarding.
As
per the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’), for an assessee,
who is required to obtain Tax Audit Report (TAR) under section 44AB of the Act,
the due date for furnishing his return of income is 30 th September of the
Assessment Year.
2.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (‘the Board’) vide order dated 20th August,
2014 extended the due date for obtaining and furnishing of Tax Audit Report
under section 44AB of the Act for Assessment Year 2014-15 from 30 th September,
2014 to 30 th November, 2014. Subsequently, a number of representations were
received in the Board requesting for extension of the due date for furnishing
of return of income also. Writ petitions were also filed in various High Courts
for directing the Board to extend the due date for furnishing of return of income
from 30 th September, 2014 to 30 th November, 2014 in conformity with the
extension of the due date for filing of Tax Audit Report.
3.
The Gujarat High Court vide judgement dated 22.09.2014
(2014-TIOL-1681-HC-AHM-IT) directed the Board to extend the due date for
furnishing the return of income to 30 th November, 2014, except for the
purposes of charging of interest under section 234A of the Act for late filing
of return of income. Other High Courts also directed the Board to look into the
practical difficulties of the petitioners and take a just and proper decision
in this matter.
4.
In compliance to the judgments of various High Courts and after considering the
representations received for extension of the due date, the Board, in exercise
of its power conferred by section 119 of the Act, has extended the ‘due-date’
for furnishing return of income from 30th September, 2014 to
30th November, 2014 for the Assessment Year 2014-15 for all purposes of
the Act in the case of an assessee, who is required to file his return of
income by 30th September, 2014, and is also required to get his accounts
audited under section 44AB of the Act or is a working partner of a firm whose
accounts are required to be audited under section 44AB of the Act.
5.
There shall be no extension of the “due date” for the purposes of charging of
interest under section 234A of the Act for late filing of return of income and
the assessees shall remain liable for payment of interest as per the provisions
of section 234A of the Act.
6.
For removal of doubt, it is clarified that for an assessee (other than working
partner of a firm which is required to obtain and furnish Tax Audit Report),
who is required to file its return of income by 30 th September, 2014 but not
required to obtain and furnish Tax Audit Report under section 44AB, the due
date for furnishing of return of income for assessment year 2014-15 remains as
30 th September, 2014.
(Rekha
Shukla)
Commissioner of Income Tax
(Media & Technical Policy)
Official Spokesperson, CBDT
Commissioner of Income Tax
(Media & Technical Policy)
Official Spokesperson, CBDT