Special return filing counter for businessmen, docs, CAs, lawyers

Filing tax returns is going to turn more convenient for professionals like businessmen, doctors, lawyers and CAs in the capital as they can now file their returns at special counters which will be set up by the Income Tax department.

The last date for filing tax returns is the period nearing July 31.

Businessmen who have an annual turnover of Rs 40 lakh and professionals having an income of less than Rs 15 lakh can file their annual tax return at these counters at Vikas Bhawan located near ITO.

The tax department expects to get more than 5 lakh returns this year on the 50 special counters to be set up by them, senior tax official P K Kedia told reporters here.

He said the tax returns of senior citizens and the differently-abled will be taken on a priority basis.

When asked if the electronic filing of returns was catching up with the tax payers, he said the number has been increasing over the years.

In fact, businessmen with an annual turnover of less than Rs 40 lakh have to compulsorily e-file (or electronically file) their tax returns.

Filing e-returns is easy as the assessee can download the forms from the tax department's website and file the return from home too, saving a lot of time and avoiding inconvenience.

When asked if refunds were still an issue with the taxpayers, he said the assessees must correctly fill their tax return forms along with their Permanent Account Number (PAN), present and complete postal address, bank account number, MICR code and tax deduction at source of the employer or tax deductor.

Absence of any of these details could lead to problems in processing of tax returns and subsequently refunds may be delayed.