E-returns jump 10% in assessment year 2016-17

Increasing number of tax assesses are e-filing returns. In 2016-17, 9.8 per cent more returns have been electronically-filed (e-filed) than in the corresponding period of the previous assessment year.

According to the finance ministry, 226.98 lakh e-returns have been filed in 2016-17, compared to 206.55 lakh in 2015-16.

The income tax department had extended the last date of filing returns to August 5, from July 31.

If returns e-filed till August 5, 2015, are taken into consideration, the number of returns e-filed in 2016-17 would be three times. As many as 70.97 lakh returns were e-filed till August 5 of the previous assessment year.

The last date of filing returns was extended till September 7 in the 2015-16 assessment year.

Over 75 lakh taxpayer availed the facility of e-verification of income tax returns (ITRs) this year till August 5, against around 33 lakh taxpayers last year till September 7, the finance ministry said.

"Of these, Aadhar based e-verification was used by 17.68 lakh taxpayers during the current year, as against 10.41 lakh taxpayers during the same period in 2015-16," it added.

In addition to these, 3.32 lakh returns were digitally signed.

Thus, over 35 per cent of taxpayers have already completed the entire process of return submission electronically.

The finance ministry said that the revenue department encourages all taxpayers who have submitted their ITRs to use e-verification as an easy alternative to sending their ITR-V form to the Central Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, tax refunds of Rs 14,332 crore have been issued this year, till August 5.

"The CPC, in Bengaluru, has already issued over 54.35 lakh refunds totalling to Rs 14,332 crore, which includes 20.81 lakh refunds for assessment year 2016-17 (current year returns) totalling to Rs 2,922 crore till August 5, 2016," the ministry said.