UPDATE ON 14.09.2015
High Court has not accepted the Writ and said that the issue involved partakes the character of Public interest and Appellant should have filed Public Interest Litigation (PIL) instead of Writ Petition. High Court has allowed assessee to file PIL.
What Next
We will keep updating you on the issue and also on other writs which are being filed through out the country for Tax Audit Due Date Extension.
10.09.2015
CA Avinash Gupta and Tax Research Foundation, Delhi has filed a Writ petition in Delhi High Court on 10.09.2015, seeking Extension of due date of Tax Audit Report required to be filed Under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act,1961 for Assessment Year 2015-16.
Writ details are as follows :- Avinash Gupta and Ors V/s Union of India and Ors (Delhi High Court) , WP(C.) of 8771 of 2015.
Writ is likely to be listed in Court Room No. 09 on coming Monday i.e. on 14th day of September, 2015.
It is to be noted that last year too many Chartered Accountants & Tax Association has filed writ petition in various High Courts across India and got the due date extended.
This Year CBDT has already rejected any possibility of Due date extension vide its Press Release dated 09th September 2015 which has drawn several criticism from those Associated with Tax Audit Related work.
In the coming Various Tax association from Other parts of Countries and Chartered accountants are also likely to move to other High Courts to get the Tax Audit and Return Filing date extended.
We are attaching herewith Draft of Writ Filed in Delhi High Court and also reproducing below the Grounds on which the writ been filed for the benefit of our readers –
GROUNDS OF APPEAL
A. Because the decision of the Respondent No.1 and 2 vide its Press Release Dated 09.09.2015 by virtue of which, the Respondents has denied to extend the date for filing of returns due by 30.09.2015 for Assessment Year 2015-2016 for certain categories of Assesses including Companies, and Firms and, Individuals Engaged in Proprietary Business/Profession etc., whose Accounts are required to be Audited in terms of section 44AB of the Income Tax Act 1961, is unreasonable, unjust, arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional and that the same is inter-alia, in violation and contravention to Article 14, and Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India, as the same is infringing the fundamental rights of equality, trade and profession which is guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
B. Because the Respondent No.1 and 2 ought to have extended the date of filing of Returns due by 30th September for Assessment Year 2015-2016 for Categories of Assesses Including Companies, and Firms and, Individuals Engaged in Proprietary Business /Profession etc., whose Accounts are required to be Audited u/s 44AB of The Income Tax Act, 1961 from 30.09.2015 to 31.12.2015, on the account of belated notification of the Income Tax Form with the exorbitant delay.
C. Because the decision of the Respondent No.1 and 2 as mentioned in the said Press Release is inter-alia unreasonable, arbitrary, unjustified and unconstitutional, as the same is causing grave prejudice and harassment, not only to the concerned Tax Payers but also for the Chartered Accountants community at large, who are responsible for conducting the tax audit and further to file the same alongwith the Income Tax Return in accordance with Law, in as much as in the given facts and circumstances the time left to make compliance of Section 44 AB of Income Tax Act has been reduced, as the Respondents much after 01.04.2015, has belatedly notified the Income Tax Forms for respective categories of Tax Payers.
D. Because the Tax Payer as well as the Respondents expect from the Chartered Accountant a 100% compliance with zero tolerance while make compliances under the Income Tax Act, however it is not possible to justify the role to the full extent in just 23 days, as the Income Tax Return for the Assesses/Tax Payers not liable for Audit, were being filed till 07.09.2015, in terms of the period of filing ITR being extended by the Respondents on account of delay in notification of ITR Forms.
E. Because the most affected category of Tax Payers has been the Assesses including Companies, and Firms and, Individuals Engaged in Proprietary Business/Profession etc., whose Accounts are required to be Audited in terms of the Income Tax Act 1961 and who suffered a delay in notification of forms and consequent reduction of time wherein the delay in notifying the forms by the Respondents has reduced the time of filing Income Tax Return by 122 to 128 days respectively.
F. Because the Respondent No.1 and 2 has acted against the constitutional Right of Equality under Article 14 of the Constitution inter-alia in as much as the Respondents suo-motu has though given a benefit of extension of time to the Assesses/Tax Payers not liable for Audit till 07.09.2015 (though as per law the last date is 31.07.2015). However, similar such benefit has not been given to Assesses/Tax Payers liable for Audit u/s 44AB.
G. Because inter-alia due to the unjust prejudice and harassment being caused on account of the aforesaid reduction in time, various representations were filed before the Respondents inter-alia by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. However, the Respondents without any application of mind and in highly unjust, arbitrary and unconstitutional manner did not consider the said representations and denied to extend the time for filing the date of Income Tax Return from 30.09.2015 to any further date vide its said Press Release Dated 09.09.2015.
H. Because as per Section 139 (1) of the Income Tax Act,1961, the Income Tax Return of every financial year ending on 31st March, should be filed in the assessment year by following dates of different categories of Tax Payers:
| Sr. No. | Category of Assesse | Date of filing ITR | Time available for filing ITR |
| 1. | Assesses not liable for Audit under Income Tax Act or any other Act. | 31st July | 122 days |
| 2. | Assesses liable for Audit under Income Tax Act or any other Act (except mentioned in Serial No.3) | 30th September | 183 days |
| 3. | Assesses covered under transfer pricing regulations | 30th November | 244 days |
That accordingly, as per law, the respective Forms under which the respective categories of Tax Payers are required to file their respective Income Tax Return, has to be duly made available to respective categories of Tax Payers on the very first day of the assessment year, so that every tax payer, duly know the manner/prescribed format in which the Income Tax Return is required to be filed and accordingly have sufficient time to further file the Income Tax Return in the prescribed format.
I. Because the Respondent No.1 and 2 despite knowing well the essence of time in filing Income Tax Returns, under the garb of alleged reforms and ease of doing business has deliberately failed to notify the prescribed income tax return forms for respective categories of Tax Payers.
J. Because the Respondent No.1 and 2 notified the Income Tax Return Forms for all types of Assesses (auditable and non-auditable) at a belated stage, on different dates being as under:
| Sr. No. | Forms for the Category of Assesse | Date of Notification of Forms | Date of enabling E-Filing | Reduction in Time (Days) |
| 1. | ITR 1 & 4S | 23.06.2015 | 23.06.2015 | 83 |
| 2. | ITR 2 & 2A | 23.06.2015 | 29.06.2015 | 89 |
| 3. | ITR 3,4 & 7 | 29.07.2015 | 01.08.2015 | 122 |
| 4. | ITR 5 | 29.07.2015 | 02.08.2015 | 123 |
| 5. | ITR 6 | 29.07.2015 | 07.08.2015 | 128 |
It is submitted that on account of the said delay on the part of Respondents in notifying the said Forms, the Tax Payers of the respective categories has suffered a grave prejudice, as due to the same, the respective Forms were not available to the respective categories of Tax Payers, as on 01.04.2015. It is submitted that on 01.04.2015, the right of every tax payer, duly accrues to know the manner/prescribed format in which the Income Tax Return is required to be filed and the right to further file the Income Tax Return in the prescribed format, which ought to have been made available on 01.04.2015. That as is apparent from the aforesaid chart, due to the said belated notification of forms, the different categories of tax payers have suffered and prejudiced on account of reduction in time in preparing and filing the Income Tax Return.
K. Because while notifying the Income Tax Forms for Assesses not liable for Audit under Income Tax Act, the Respondents acknowledging the fact of reduction in time for filing ITR for 81 days, suo-motu extended the date of filing ITR for the said category initially by 31 days i.e 31.08.2015 and further extended the said date by another 7 days i.e 07.09.2015.
L. Because the Ministry of Corporate Affairs came out with various notifications/clarifications in the new Companies Act, 2013, which has direct implications on the filing of Income Tax Return and the Audit of the Companies under Income Tax Act, 1961. It is also pertinent to mention that the provisions of the said enactment are being made applicable for the first time, while preparing the Annual Accounts of the Corporate Entities.
Further, in this vague situation and circumstances, the most affected category of Tax Payers has been the Assesses including Companies, and Firms and, Individuals Engaged in Proprietary Business/Profession etc., whose Accounts are required to be Audited in terms of the Income Tax Act 1961 and who suffered a delay in notification of forms and consequent reduction of time wherein the delay in notifying the forms by the Respondents has reduced the time of filing Income Tax Return by 122 to 128 days respectively.
Download Copy of Writ Petition Filed in Delhi High Court
(Republished with Further updates)
Govt is making CAs do half the work of ITOs with no pay. ITOs get very good salary and pension. CAs get no salary or retirement benefits from Govt for helping in tax compliance and collection – even TRPs get a commission. All the CA gets is fee from clients for which he has to report all the mistakes made by clients in Form 3CD – each point in the Form is meant to screw the client. Based on this Form, the client gets to pay more tax and penalty and sometimes face prosecution also. If the CA misses out something with which the client can be penalised, the CA is also penalised with disciplinary action that can ruin his career. In the next year the CA is back asking the client for his books for tax audit and the fees. Is there a more thankless work in the world than that of Indian CAs.
Vishal Garg & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Anr. (Punjab & Haryana High Court) CWP- 19770 -2015, Dated- 15.09.2015 Hearing for the same is fixed for Thursday i.e 17th September 2015.
All Gujarat Federation of Tax Consultants vs. CBDT (Gujarat High Court), SPL.C.A. No. 14727 of 2015 , Dated-15.09.2015 Date of Hearing Fixed for Monday i.e. 21st September 2015.
Soon Trade Bodies and Chartered Accountants from Nagpur and Rajasthan may also file the writ petition in their Jurisdictional High Court.
Due date should be extended upto 30 Nov 2015. CBDT cant charge interest from assessee for 2 month.Because CBDT has issued IT return late by 2 month. Means issue late form by CBDT & he also want for interest from assessee…CBDT & FM plz extend the due dt & dont waste ur & our time in time pass…
CBDT should extend the due date by atleast 30-45 days, they may charge interest u/s 234-A if they feel they’ll loose revenue. Till 7th September returns of assessees not subject to tax audit were being filed. Then came time for advance tax. In 15 odd days, the mistakes are bound to be committed in a pressure cooker like situation and on the basis of minor clerical errors, the cases will be selected for scrutiny.
1-2 years ago, there were 22 revisions in the ITR filing utility. Another idea is that, the concerned honourable CBDT members should be required to go through the drill of filing return of income [both with and without tax audit] / tax audit reports etc.
CA Avinashji wake up sir. No devlopement?
Board is interested in “Ugarani” than compliance. Basic attitude must be change to see real problem of tax payer. Board forgot main object of Tax Audit. Tax audit is introduced for error free compliance of taxation and report tax evasion by professionals. Now CBDT treat us like tax collecting agents.
It is habitually the CBDT is Extending the time at the end of the days only. it is not correct.
Why such an order is really beyond imagination. this country is of farmers army persons salaried employees. but never forget the back bone of the country the business community who is major source of employment in fact the father the country who is providing revenue for subsidy for farming,defense budget & security of vips. to ignore him is just like ignoring Lord Vishnu who is at the center of all Gods.
CBDT should issue a circular extending time at least till 30th Nov 2015 on same conditions as last year.This will save everybody’s time and effort
Now when our anxiety will come to an end ???
As there is no date extention, all C.A. should write remark in audit report,
Due to shortage of time and non cooperation from CBDT, under protest, the audit work completed on test check basis and we cannot comply all the requirments.
Well done sir, hope, God may bless all of us.
By extending the due date to 07/09/2015 for other than compulsory audits, we have been working on these cases upto 07/09/2015. Now in 3 weeks asking us to finish all the compulsory audit cases is not fair. CBDT should give extension of time upto 30/11/2015 and it should also be announced at the earliest so that many people don’t get heart attacks.
Good response will be in our favour date must be extended
Now what due date not extended
Govt will give extension till 30 Nov as in last year but only after ensuring that they can collect interest for the 2 months – again as in last year. If CBDT suo-moto gives extension they will lose this interest. I think CAs and clients should straightaway agree for 2 months’ interest and the problem will be solved
PLEASE EXTEND THE DUE DATE UPTO 30/11/2015
please extend the date audit return
Very good move, CA Avinash Gupta and Tax Research Foundation. We are with you . All the best !! –
Kya writ or kya PIL same thing hai judge sir ji se copy lekar usi time subject change kar do aur application par hand written PIL likh do…..kisi VIP ya neta ka issue hota to hath k hath ho jata……..tax audit ki date jaldi aa rahi hai aur jaldi mai audit report wrong file ho rahi hai. Court sir ji ko jaldi verdict dena chahiye…
I think that CBDT should know that any upgrade in software and system required extra skill to understand the changes and it will take time to understand. here is the steps to be taken by the professionals :
1. Download the utility and guide line provided by CBDT on income tax site.
2. Study and understand the new formats and new information required.
3. Upgrade the current software utility from it’s vendor.
4. Get training for the same from professionals.
5. Provide in house training to Audit Staff and concern person
etc. apart from that most of the senior professional are not very much expert on handling of software and utility to uplode the return. They required technical IT Professional and due to lack of time the technical person can not handle the multiple cases in such a short period. That can be self justified that CBDT has taken so much time to provide the utility to uplode the return.
Instead of asking for extension of date every year there should be law that after providing bug free utility on income tax site 90 days should be given the professional for the same.
Alok Nagar
GOOD Effort by CA Avinash Gupta and Tax Research Foundation
dear sir
THAKS GOOD Effort by CA Avinash Gupta and Tax Research Foundation for in public interest we hop for extension of due date.
ANY PIL WRIT Filed ?
ganapathiji bhi hi hamare sath due date extend hojayega
justice delayed is justice denied; hope & expect a positive response from The Hon’ble Delhi High Court.Fully agree with the view of CA.narasimhan as there is no apparent stand taken from the leaders. Hope they are doing something in this regard
Our heart felt thaks to CA avinash guptaji for taking up the cause on our behalf. Atleast the existing council members/ members who have started campigning for elections should learn from CA Avinash Guptaji and come together at least for this cause. not heard a single council member voicing against the dictatorial approach of CBDT. May be their photo op may be lost if they voice their concern.Sorry to see that some of the central ministers are CA’s, and they turn a deaf ear/blind eye to this serious problem. All the best Guptaji
Sir
Date should be extended till at least 31/12/2015. Sir we are in full stress to complete the audit but still in such situation it will affect our quality of audit.
CBDT should be liberal with auditee . At one point they are liberal with Individual IT filer who contributes 30% of revenue and audited file contributes rest 70%. Why such impartiallity. Sir plz. file PIL. We are always with you.
EVERY YEAR BUDGET DECLARE IN FEBRUARY FOR NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR AND RETURN TO BE SUBMIT AFTER 18 MONTH OF DECLARATION OF BUDGET WHY CBDT TAKE MORE THAN 16 MONTH TIME TO DECLARE FORMS , PROCEDURE , XEMA , UTILITY ???
HIGH COURT SHOULD GIVE DIRECTION TO CBDT THAT DECLARE ALL THE FORMS, PROCEDURE, XEMA , UTILITY BEFORE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR AND PEMANANTLY DUE DATE FOR SUBMIT OF AUDITED RETURN IS 2 MONTHS AFTER DUE DATE OF UNAUDITED RETURN IF WITH ANY REASON CBDT EXTEND DUE DATE FOR UNAUDITED RETURN IT’S AUTOMATIC AUDITED RETURN DUE DATE EXTEND 2 MONTH IT IS PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR PUBLIC AS WELL AS OUR PROFESSION
Thanks for the initiative taken and all the best.
Please file PIL. We are with you. CBDT / GOVT should extend the date without causing unnecessary stress on the part of CAs and also on auditee assessees when we are working and contributing for the sake of country. We are asking extension for the sake of QUALITY AUDIT.
DATE SHOULD BE EXTENDED UPTO NOV.
Govt is treating CAs like dirt because CAs crawl when asked to bend. Through tax audit, CAs do the work of ITOs and payment comes from the clients, against whom reports are prepared and they are penalised. In no other profession, one works for someone and gets paid by someone else. No time is given for the audit and if quality suffers strict action is taken against the CAs – what a thankless profession.
Now what will be next??
All the best sir, for your effort.
CBDT itself should extend due date without waiting for court directions
High Court has not accepted the Writ and said that the issue involved seems to be of Public interest and Appellant should file Public Interest Litigation (PIL) instead of Writ Petition.
any update sir
sir what about today haering for extended due date of tax audit
let us hope that unjust settle in time without causing further delay & for the betterment of the nation & its revenue giving machinery & reduce the stress of members of CA,S who are penalized just for being facilitator of process going on without any fault.
Sir any news from high court please reply
any nwea regarding hearing
PLEASE TAX AUDIT REPORT FILLING DATE EXTEND TO 31/10/2015
any news From DELHI HIGH COURT
Court has to Extended Due Date in first Hearing ….
Any New or Update from Court….
GOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDD
Any Updates?
good efforts. certainly win
any news from Court
Any News from high court. pls reply sir