ITRs fell in 2018-19 due to inclusion of past AY's return filings: I-T dept

While the I-T dept's e-filing website showed returns filed in 2018-19 fell to 6.68 cr from 6.74 cr in the previous fiscal, the CBDT clarified that returns filed included those of previous AYs

The Income Tax Department Monday sought to justify a sharp 6.6 lakh drop in the number of I-T returns filed online during 2018-19 saying the number shown on its e-filing website for the financial year included returns of previous fiscal years.

While the tax department's e-filing website showed returns filed in 2018-19 fell to 6.68 crore from 6.74 crore in the previous fiscal, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in a statement clarified that the returns filed included those of previous assessment years, excluding which returns filed in 2018-19 showed an almost 19 per cent rise.

But the tax department had