Extend due date to submit Tax Audit Reports & ITR: ICAI requests 3rd time

ICAI has for the third time in less than a month made a request for Extension for extension of time for submission of Tax Audit Reports and related returns from 30th September, 2018 to 31st October, 2018. Earlier ICAI has made representation dated 31st August, 2018 and 10th September, 2018.

Read ICAI 1st Representation on extension of Tax Audit Due Date, Dated: 31st August, 2018 

Read ICAI 2nd Representation on extension of Tax Audit Due Date, Dated: 10th September, 2018

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF INDIA
(Set up by an Act of Parliament)

ICAI/DTC/2018-19/Rep–36

17th September, 2018

Shri Sushil Chandra Ji,
Chairman,
Central Board of Direct Taxes,
Ministry of Finance,
Government of India,
North Block,
New Delhi-110 001.

Respected Sir,

Reg. Our representation dated 31st August, 2018 and 10th September, 2018 for extension of time for submission of Tax Audit Reports and related returns from 30th September, 2018 to 31st October, 2018 – Recent developments and further submissions:

Sir, majority of CA offices are working overtime till late evenings and on Sundays and holidays due to increased workloads and frequent changes, tax payers and tax auditors are unable to cope up with the additional and frequently changing requirements in effectively curtailed time period.

The prime objective of tax audits will be better served if audits are conducted with less pressure with peace of mind – this is possible if due dates are extended.

At the outset, best compliments from ICAI!

Relevant brief about role of ICAI w.r.t. tax collection by the Government:

As you are kindly aware that ICAI being a partner in nation building, has always supported the efforts of the government to achieve its objective to optimize tax collection and prevent tax evasion on one hand and to ensure timely compliance of statutory obligations by the tax payers on the other hand. Also, ICAI has played a pivotal role in enhancing the relationship between the taxpayers and the Department. We have been bringing to the notice of the Department, from time to time, the genuine hardships being faced by the tax payers and as a consequence by our members for timely redressal of the same.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established on 1st July, 1949 by an Act of Parliament, viz., The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountants in the country, has five Regional Councils,163 Branches, 138 Study Circles covering the length and breadth of the country and 31 Chapters abroad. Founded 70 years ago, the Institute has grown to cross the mark of more than 284,000 members and over 800,000 students as of now. Nationally, ICAI engages in dialogues from time to time and on continuing basis inter alia with Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Office of Comptroller and Auditor General and other regulatory bodies and submits it views, inputs and comments as sought and suo motu in overall national interests.

Taxation works in the country is pre-dominantly handled by Chartered Accountants all over India. Our members are well connected with the tax-payers at the ground level.

In above background, the tax payers are quite effectively represented by the ICAI for their genuine difficulties and hardships. Therefore, by addressing the issues raised by the ICAI, Hon’ble CBDT will be able to address the issues and hardships concerning tax payers.

Severe consequences to specified assessee for not meeting the deadlines of TAR or filing of returns – not justified in present circumstances:

For non-filing of tax audit report in time, the assessee is liable to heavy penalty under section 271B, for failure to furnish return by due date, disallowance of deductions available under the provisions of ‘Chapter VI-C- Deductions in respect of certain incomes’, and he is also subjected to restrictions on carry forward of certain losses.

The above consequences are quite harsh and would be suffered by the assessees despite trying their best to cope up with the requirements. We are sure that the Government would like to be strict with those who are willful defaulters and not who are sincere but cannot cope with the changes in time.

Tax payers and tax auditors appreciate and support the efforts of government to capture more information, but they need more time for compliances:

ICAI has always been instrumental in sharing the difficulties being faced by the assessees with the Department for appropriate solution. We fully respect and support the efforts of the Government to capture more information in the tax returns to prevent tax avoidance/evasion. However, at the same time, it must be ensured that the tax payers and members of the profession are given adequate time to ensure due compliance in an effective manner.

The detailed hardships and issues and the justification for extension were communicated to your good office vide our communications ICAI/DTC/2018-19/Rep – 27 dated 31^st August, 2018 and ICAI/DTC/2018-19/Rep – 34 dated 10^th September, 2018 with submission to extend the due dates.

CA offices are functioning overtime till very late evenings, as also on holidays, still compliances not possible, prime objective of tax audit will be better served if unreasonable pressure is immediately released:

As the due date for filing tax audit reports and related returns is fast approaching, taxpayers and members are raising their concerns/hardships being faced by them in complying the statutory obligations in a timely and effective manner. Due to the far-reaching changes mid-way and frequent other changes in systems etc., the tax payers have been taking a lot of time to understand the changes, requirements and consequently the tax auditors are also working over-time and most of the CA offices engaged in tax audits are functioning overtime till very late evenings and on Sundays and holidays. This can be easily verified as the uploading details are completely available in the E based transparent system introduced by the Department. This shows the sincerity and dedication of the CA fraternity. However, the increased workload is such that the same cannot be coped up even by such overtime works by the administration.

However, the prime objective of the tax audits and determination of true total income will be better served if the unreasonable pressure due to non-possibility of completions before 30th September, 2018 is reduced by immediate notification of extension impugned due dates. As a Regulator of the audit profession, ICAI is concerned with the quality of the tax audits conducted by the members of our Institute.

In addition, to our above submissions, we make here some further submissions for immediate kind consideration of your good office:

Ideally, and in all fairness to the tax payers and tax auditors, all the relevant forms, related schemas and other logistics arrangements after due testing should have been readied and notified on or before 31^st March. This would help both the tax-payers and the professionals in meeting the statutory compliances within the due dates, in a

planned, peaceful manner and without unnecessary wastage of time to understand and cope up with interrupting changes and consequent spending of time also.

1. Delay in release and frequent modification in utilities:

This is to bring to your kind notice that due to the delay in e-enabling of return forms, the effective time available for filing of return of income became very less, causing genuine hardship to the assessees and members of the profession. The table below shows the effective time available for filing return of income/tax audit report (TAR) for A.Y. 2018-19 whose last date for filing return of income/TAR falls due on 30^th September, 2018:

The above table has already been included in our earlier representation (duly attached). Here, we add as follows:

Whenever there is a schema change and the release of new utility by the CBDT, it requires time to understand the changes made in comparison to the earlier version and results in enormous loss of man hours. Every change in the utility has resulted in loss of data already stored with respect to the auditee as the new version did not accept the data stored in the previous version.

Given the fact that there have been frequent changes in the utility hosted on the CBDT website and the last change was as late as 7th September 2018, the time available for completion and filing of the audit reports is too less.

It has also been noticed that whenever the new utility is being released, there are issues specially relating to the additional requirements which are mandatory fields for reporting, resulting in delay for completion of audit. It is also not fair to ask additional information from some taxpayers who file their returns after such changes were carried out whereas the same information is not obtained from early filers.

2. Delay due to software updation:

Many assessees and auditors are using the softwares which are prepared by the private software providers, based on the schema released by the CBDT. Significant and frequent changes made by the Department in the e-filing utilities results in updation of software used by such chartered accountants. The software vendors take time to update the software, due to which the working days get reduced.

3. Due date of filing return of income and audit reports for assessees in the State of Kerala and other states of country:

As you are aware, the State of Kerala was struck by a natural disaster in the month of August, caused devastating floods and landslides. The large flash floods and massive landslides damaged many houses and structures, killed those who were trapped. The roads have been seriously damaged, banking facilities have been impaired, communication channels desecrated, causing undue hardships to the inhabitants of the State of Kerala as well as some of the Northern and Eastern States.

Considering the massive loss of life and property, it is important to mention here that due date of filing of ITRs in respect of assessees residing in or assessed in the State of Kerala who were required to file returns upto 31st August, 2018 only was extended to 15^th September, 2018.

The said extension of due date can in no way be considered as extension of due date for those who are required to file return of income and audit report on or before 30th September, 2018. The assessees in the state of Kerala are in a state of melancholy and at present even on humanitarian grounds they should not be expected to pay due attention to the works related to filing of Income Tax Returns and Tax Audit Reports, as many of them are struggling to set their houses in order, and some are trying to retrieve or regenerate their destroyed records. Also, there has been reported instances wherein the physical records kept by many of the assessees have been destroyed due to heavy rains and they have been struggling to re-generate the documents from the material available with them.

Further, the assessees are not able to get the required information such as TDS Statements and other financial information required for audit and for filing Income tax returns, from the State Government offices and private offices. As a result, the assessees are expressing their inability to provide the required information to the tax auditors who are conducting audit under section 44AB of Income-tax Act, 1961. There are cases where a unit or branch of auditee is located in one or more of these regions and the branch auditor who is different from the main auditor, is unable to complete his audit. Due to this, not only the auditor is unable to finalise his tax audit report, the auditee too is not able to finalise and furnish his income tax return.

4. Increase in number of returns filed:

The following table shows the growth in filing ITRs (between previous FY and current FY):

It is clear from the above table, there is tremendous increase in filing in volume of ITR Forms. It necessitates the need for extension of time for filing ITRs and TAR.

5. Errors in latest utilities released and non-updation of the utilities as per the law

♦ Error in the utility of Form No. 3CB-3CD

The changes made in the utility on 1st September, 2018 in Clause No. 9(a) of Form No. 3CB, there is a requirement of mentioning the details of the partners of the firm, which is a mandatory field. The present utility does not allow the assessee to enter any data in this field and the field is locked, despite of the status of the assessee being selected as partnership firm. It is pertinent to note that Representation No. ICAI/DTC/2018-19/Rep – 32 dated 7^th September, 2018 has already been submitted to the Chairman, CBDT in this regard.

♦ Error in the utility of Form ITR-5

As per the provisions of Section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, if the assessee is entitled to get the books of account audited as per the provisions of any other Act, then the due date is 30^th September and not 31^st July (extended to 31^st August, 2018 for AY 2018-19). The Limited Liability Partnership is also required to get the books of account audited as per the provisions of the LLP Act. The utility levies the late fee under Section 234F of the Income-tax Act, 1961, which is not correct. The screen shots are enclosed for your ready reference:

Screen Shot for selection of Audit

Screen Shot for levy of Late Fee

♦ Error in the utility of Form ITR-6

Section 115JAA(3A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 has been amended by the Finance Act, 2017 and accordingly the MAT Credit is now allowed to be carried forward for a period of 15 years as compared to 8 years in the earlier assessment years. This extended period of adjustments has not been made available in the ITR-6 Utility. The screen shot of the same is appended hereto for your ready reference as it has only the option to insert the figures from Assessment Year 2008-09 and not for the prior period.

♦ Error in the utility of Form ITR-7

As per the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Trust having income below the basic taxable limit i.e. Rs 2,50,000/- is not required to pay any tax. The ITR-7 utility computes the tax at the maximum marginal tax rate (@ 30%) which needs to be corrected. The utility does not provide for such basic exemption. The screen shots of the same are appended hereto for your ready reference.

Screen Shot of Income below exemption limit in ITR-7

Screen Shot of Tax Computation in ITR utility

It is stated that lot of time is being spent for verification of the ITR and non-availability of corrected utility to upload the Return of Income.

6. Slow down of Website

The website www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in is working very slow and the generation of Form No. 26AS from TRACES portal also takes time due to frequent updations of the entries and non-availability of the entries of TDS claimable in Form No. 26AS. This also delays the filing of return of income.

Since after filing the ITR, the processing errors generated also takes years and years to rectify the same. For free and hassle-free filing, the time limit of filing of return is required to be extended.

7. Reconciliation of GST and amounts relating to GST to be mentioned in the ITR

The figures for claims and credits are required to be reported in SCH-BS as well as SCH-PL and will have the significant impact on the profitability of the assessee. Unless and until the matching of these figures is completed, the audit will not be complete. The auditor will have to spent significant time in reconciliation of the figures. Also, the reconciliation of FORM-9C has been notified by the GST Department on September 13, 2018. Since this form has the direct link with the ITR, it becomes mandatory for the tax payer to comply with this requirement and thereby reducing the time available with the tax auditor as well as the assessee.

8. Recent notification no. 43 and 44 both dated 10.09.2018 under the GST law extending time limits for filing of GSTR 1 will not enable finalisation of true accounts before 31^st October, 2018:

The Government by notification nos. 43 and 44 both dated 10.09.2018 has extended the time limits for filing GSTR 1 both for quarterly as well as monthly returns including for the periods from July, 2017 to 31st March, 2018. The GSTR 1 includes supplies by the suppliers of goods and services. As far as the recipient of goods, expenses and capital assets are concerned, there is an online form GSTR 2A on the GST Website which is on the lines of TDS Form No. 26AS under the Income-tax Rules. Under the system, details furnished by suppliers in GSTR 1 will automatically reflect in GSTR 2A of the recipients and depending upon the details furnished by the suppliers the recipients may have to re-adjust their accounts in respect of purchases, expenses, capital assets and input credits for the concerned period and all these will impact the financial statements. Therefore, effectively, the financial statements w.r.t. purchases, expenses and capital assets would be finalised only by 31st October, 2018.

Further, the tax payers will be also be occupied in compliances under the GST law due to such extended date.

In fact, the frequent and far reaching changes in the GST law and procedural aspects alone are taking substantial time of the businessmen particularly the SMEs.

Suggestion

• In view of the above reasons and the reasons stated in our earlier representations, we suggest and request that the due date of filing returns of income under section 139(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 for assessees mentioned under clause (a) of Explanation 2 to section 139(1) and also the ‘specified date’ for filing tax audit reports be extended from 30th September, 2018 to 31^st October, 2018 for AY 2018-19 as also the due date for filing tax audit reports.
• For the tax audit reports relating to A.Y 2019-20, may we request you to make the utility available by 1^st April, 2019 to enable our members to smoothly e-file the tax audit reports in time. We also request you to have a consultative meeting with ICAI before releasing the schema so that the issues that may arise can be foreseen and taken care of, thereby facilitating smooth e-filing of tax audit reports.

We would be very grateful if your good self would take an early action in this regard which will be very helpful for the taxation fraternity and also for the trade & industry.

A suitable notification may be issued to this effect at the earliest.

With Warm Regards

-Sd-

Chairman, Direct Taxes Committee
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Download ICAI Representation on Extension of Tax Audit Due Date