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The due date to file the income tax return for the financial year 2020-21 ended on 31st December 2021. In case if an individual was required to file the return and failed to do so, then there are few options to file the return.
This article covers the following:
Latest Update
According to the Finance Act 1987 amendment, you can file your belated IT return anytime on or before 1 year from the end of the relevant Assessment Year (AY). Example, for the AY 2016-17, the timeline to file a belated return was on or before 31 March 2018.
With the amendment vide Finance Act 2016, from AY 2017-18 belated IT returns should be filed before the end of the relevant AY. Hence, for the FY 2019-20, the last day to file a belated return was 31 March 2021.
However, the Finance Bill 2021 has further reduced the timeline of filing the belated return. With effect from AY 2021-22, you can file the belated return three months before the end of the relevant assessment year or before the completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier.
For example, the belated return for the FY 2020-21 can be filed up to 31st December 2021 (if assessment is not completed). This date has been extended by CBDT to 31st March 2022 specifically for FY 20-21.
If you have received a notice from the Income Tax Department asking you to file your returns that go beyond 2 financial years, you can log on to www.cleartax.in to prepare your returns. You can then print this return and submit it to the Income Tax Office in your ward.
Usually, a taxpayer files old returns as a response to an income tax notice. Until AY 2017-18, there was a time limit of 1 year for filing a revised return from the end of the relevant AY.
It is interesting to note that from the AY 2018-19, the time limit for filing a revised return (rectifying any omission, error etc.) made in the original return has been reduced. Currently, such a revision has to be done on or before the end of the relevant AY.
Example:
For the FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20), if the return is filed after 31 August 2019 but before 31 December 2019, a fee of Rs 5000 applies. Post 31 December 2019, the late fee would be Rs 10,000.
Note: For FY 2019-20 the last date to file the income tax return was 10th January 2021 so late fee of Rs. 10,000 shall be payable if the return is filed after 10th January 2021.
The amendment made in the Finance Act 2016 stated that income tax returns must be filed within the end of the relevant assessment year, effective from the assessment year 2017-18. There is no provision for you to file the returns once you have missed the due date.
The income tax department allows taxpayers to file returns post-deadline in some specific cases. The following ways help you file a condonation of delay request:
The due date to file income tax return by individuals (Non-audit cases) for FY 2020-21 is 31st December 2021. If you file return after 31st December 2021, interest and late fees up to Rs 10,000 will be levied.
The taxpayers can file a belated return until the end of the assessment year or completion of the assessment, whichever is earlier. For example, for the AY 2019-20 (corresponding to FY 2018-19), a belated return can be filed until 31 March 2020.
However, for FY 2020-21 onwards, belated return can be filed 3 months before the end of the relevant assessment year or completion of assessment, whichever is earlier. Hence, the last date to file belated return for the FY 2020-21 is 31st December 2021 (extended to 31st March 2022 specifically for FY 2020-21).
You can re-submit your e-filed return as many times as necessary until the filing deadline in October. However, we recommend that after three unsuccessful attempts (with the same e-file error), you print, sign, and mail your return. Some e-file issues cannot be resolved except by the IRS.
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