Income tax department notifies return forms for firms

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified tax returns forms for non-salaried class, including companies, partners in firms and individuals deriving their income from proprietary business or profession for 2015-16.

"E-filing of ITR 3,4,7 has been enabled, and for ITR 5 and 6, it will be available shortly," the CBDT said in a statement earlier this week.

These forms are used by non-salaried entities to file income tax returns.

As per the notification, companies and firms filing returns under ITR-5 and 6 would be required to specify whether they are foreign institutional investors (FII) or foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and will have to provide market regulator Sebi's registration numbers.

The government earlier notified ITR forms 1 (Sahaj), 2, 2A and 4S (Sugam) for 2015-16. These are used for filing income tax returns by salaried individuals.

In a move last month, to facilitate taxpayers through e-enabled services, the finance ministry said the income tax return for 2015-16 can now be verified electronically.

"A taxpayer may verify his return through internet banking or through the Aadhar-based authentication process," it said in a statement.

"Persons using this facility will not be required to submit a signed paper copy of ITR-Verification form (ITR-V) to CPC Bengaluru," it added.

For the convenience of small taxpayers having total income of Rs.500,000 or below without any claim of refund, the facility of generating the electronic verification code (EVC) has also been provided on the e-filing website of the department.

It also provides for sending the EVC to the registered email ID and the mobile number to enable the filer to thereafter use the code to verify the return.

In case, a taxpayer is unable to electronically verify the ITR using the EVC for any reason, then the signed copy of ITR-V may be sent within the specified time of 120 days to CPC Bengaluru by ordinary or speed post, the statement said.