Updated on: Apr 27th, 2023
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5 min read
Timelines for the filing of returns have been prescribed under the income tax laws in India. Taxpayers do make various claims in their returns of income like a refund, carry forward of losses etc, which, if returns are not filed, cannot be claimed at all by taxpayers by any other mode. So does this mean if one fails to file his return within the due date for certain unavoidable reasons, he loses his otherwise rightful claim to a refund or a carryforward of loss?
No. Not completely. The income tax laws empower to Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to authorize Income tax officers to accept such returns claiming an exemption, deduction, refund, carryforward of losses as the case may be, even after the expiry of the due dates prescribed. Section 119 of the Income-tax act deals with this. Let’s understand this section a little more in detail.
Section 119 empowers the Central Board of Taxes (CBDT) to issue instructions to lower level of authorities. In addition, section 119(2)(b) empowers CBDT to direct income tax authorities to allow any claim for exemption, deduction, refund and any other relief under the income tax act even after the expiry of the time limit to make such claim. However, such claims will only be allowed by the income tax authority provided, making such a claim within the prescribed due date was genuinely out of the control of the taxpayer.
Applications for claim of refund or carry forward of losses can be accepted beyond the due date according to Section 119. However, certain guidelines for accepting or rejecting these applications have been set out by the CBDT vide its Circular dated 9.5.2015. In fact, this circular specifies the monetary limits based on which different levels of income tax authorities have been authorized to deal with these applications. The table below prescribes the monetary limit of the claim made and the income tax authority empowered to deal with it.
Monetary Limit | Authority |
Where the amount of claim is not more than Rs. 10 lacs | The Principal Commissioners of Income Tax/ Commissioners of Income Tax (Pr.CITs/CITs) |
Where the amount of claim is more than Rs. 10 lacs but less than Rs. 50 lacs | The Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax/ Chief Commissioners of Income Tax (Pr.CCITs/CCITs) |
Where the amount of claim is more than Rs. 50 lacs | Central Board of Taxes |
Scenarios | Time limit for filing application | Example |
Normal Refund Claims | Six years after the end of the assessment year | Mr A could not file his refund claim in the ITR due to his poor health conditions in FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23). He can claim the refund by making a condonation application. But he will have to make the application before the end of the AY 2028-29, .i.e. by 31st March 2029 |
Refund claim arises based on a court order | The period for which court case was pending will not be considered for calculating 6 years of time. This period is ignored only where an application has been filed within 6 months from the end of the month of the court’s order or end of the relevant financial year, whichever comes later. | Neha's income tax related dispute was pending before the court. The court issued an order in favor of Neha. After the court order was passed in June 2021, Neha made the application for refund claim. Therefore, the application would need to be filed on or before 31 March 2021, as it comes after 31 December 2021 (6 months timeline) |
Once you receive an order of acceptance of your claim, you can file return u/s 119(2)(b) from income tax e-filing website by the following steps :
Any relief or claim will be allowed only when these conditions will also be fulfilled along with those mentioned above :
Filing income tax returns on time is crucial for taxpayers to claim refunds or carry forward losses. Section 119 of the Income-tax Act allows CBDT to authorize income tax officers to accept such claims even after the due date, under specific conditions. Different monetary limits have been set for authorities to deal with these applications. Claimants must ensure applications are filed within six years for normal refund claims and follow certain steps for filing under section 119(2)(b).