Missed the March 31 deadline to file income tax return? Here's what you can do
The Economic Times 07/04/2018
March 31, 2018 was the deadline to file income tax returns (ITR) for the financial year 2015-16 and 2016-17. In case you haven't filed your ITR for FYs 2015-16 and 2016-17, you cannot file a belated return anymore.
If you have not filed your returns for these two FYs, read on to find out what you can do now:
- File a Condonation of delay request for specific cases:
These are the parameters based on which applications can be accepted or rejected by the income tax department:
a) The claim is correct and genuine
b) Case is based on genuine hardship on merits
c) Income is not assessable in the hands of any other person under the Income Tax Act
d) The refund has arisen as result of excess tax deducted or tax collected at source, advance tax or self-assessment tax.
The time limit to file such application is six years from the end of the assessment year for filing the return. (Assessment year is the year immediately following the financial year). Therefore, for such taxpayers who have missed the deadline of March 31, 2018, can file such application by 31 March 2023 (for FY 2015-16) and 31 March 2024 (for FY 2016-17) . In case of belated tax refund, no interest will be paid by the department to you.
The application will have to be disposed by the department within six months from the end of the month in which the application is received as far as possible.
- If taxes are also payable by you
- If all taxes are paid but return not filed
- Actions that tax department might take against you
Naveen Wadhwa, DGM, Taxmann.com says "If TDS has been deducted from your income and you have not filed your ITR, then department can issue you a notice under 142 (1) (i) for non-filing of returns. A penalty may also be levied by the assessing officer of Rs 5,000 for non-filing of income tax returns."
Every taxpayer is required to file ITR if his/her total income exceeds the basic exemption limit. The department can issue you a notice under section 148 for income escaping the assessment for non-filing of ITR. You will be required to respond to that notice on the income tax e-filing website as well as file your ITR to comply with the notice issued by the tax officer.
Penalties under such case will be levied for under-reporting of incomes. For FY 2015-16, a penalty of 100-300 percent of the tax payable amount will be levied as per the discretion of the assessing officer. For FY 2016-17, a penalty of 50 percent of the tax payable amount will be charged, adds Wadhwa.
Soni says, "If a person has at least paid his taxes along with interest even if he/she cannot file the ITR after March 31, 2018 then in such a case, chances are he/she might not be liable to pay penalty for under-reporting of income."