Taxpayers warned against fake order extending deadline

Clarifying that there was no extension in Wednesday's deadline for filing of returns and audit reports by entities, the union finance ministry on Monday warned against a "fraudulent" order in circulation saying the last date has been extended beyond the deadline of September 30.

"It has been brought to the notice of the government that a fake order dated September 26 supposedly under section 119 of the Income-Tax Act 1961 under the signature of one Upmanyu Reddy, under secretary to the government of India, is in circulation.

"The fake order extends the due date for filing of audit report under section 119 of the Income-Tax Act to October 15," an official statement said here.

"It is clarified the order is fraudulent. The government has not extended the due date for filing of returns and audit report due by September 30. Taxpayers and practitioners are advised not to give any credence to the fraudulent order purportedly signed by one Upmanyu Reddy," it added.