The Income Tax (Sixth Amendment) Rules, 2011 are notified with effect from 1 July 2011 to provide that, a firm required to furnish the return of income in Form ITR-5, or an individual or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) required to furnish the return of income in Form ITR-4 and to whom provisions of section 44AB of the Act are applicable, shall furnish the return of income electronically under the digital signature, with effect from AY 2011-12.
Note: Section 44AB requires audit of accounts of certain persons carrying on business / profession on the basis of their turnover / receipts or other criteria mentioned therein.
Notification No. 37/2011 [F. No. 149/68/2011-So (Tpl)], Dated 1-7-2011
The processors of Digital signatures are very slow and in many cases they are not fully aware of use of forms and I fee it may not be possible for them to process and issue digital signature facility, hence the I am of the opinion that CBDT shall think over implementing the digital system for the next assessment year 2012-13, otherwise many may not be able to file returns in time or in the alternative the time may be extended for filing return of income, subject to obtaining the report u/s.44AB of the IT Act in time and taxes are paid as per returned income before 30-09-2011,( without payment of any interest u/s 234A or 234B of the Act.