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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 31st August, 2018 and ICAI/DTC/2018-19/Rep – 34 dated 10th 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 31st 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 30th September, 2018:

S. N. ITR Forms /TAR Time avail-able for filing return of income /TAR (from the end of the rele-vant finan-cial year) Date of Notif-ication Date of enabling E-Filing Delay in release of
enab-ling e-filing utility
Effe-ctive time avail-able for filing of return of income/ TAR (from the date of enab-ling ) Number of
times utility modified after release in
Java version
Last modified date
1 ITR 3 183 days 03.04.2018 18.05.2018 48 days 135 days 5 07.09.2018
2 ITR 5 & 7 183 days 03.04.2018 21.05.2018 51 days 132 days 5 01.09.2018
3 ITR 6 183 days 03.04.2018 26.05.2018 56 days 127 days 4 14.08.2018
4 Form 3CA, 3CB, 3CD 183 days 20.07.2018 20.08.2018 143 days 40 days 5 07.09.2018

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 15th 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):

S. No. ITR FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 Growth (%)
1 ITR-3 16,97,020 42,15,536 148.41
2 ITR-5 2,03,386 2,83,041 39.16
3 ITR-6 45,505 56,587 24.35
4 ITR-7 34,213 38,089 11.33
FY 2017-18 => From 01/04/2017 to 31/07/2017 FY 2018-19 => From 01/04/2018 to 31/07/2018

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 7th 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 30th September and not 31st July (extended to 31st 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 selection of Audit

Screen Shot for levy of Late Fee

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 Income below exemption limit in ITR-7

Screen Shot of Tax Computation in ITR utility

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 31st 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 31st 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 1st 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

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256 Comments

  1. pritam GOYAL says:

    please extend audit report dated 5.11.2018.only for
    extent the day two,three day bhi chal jai gi. please extent date please time se notification issue. thanks

  2. M L Babu says:

    Today, the CBDT has rejected an application from All Kerala Chartered Accountants Association for an extension of audit u/s 44 AB stating that the floods in Kerala occurred in mid August, leaving enough room for getting the accounts audited after March 31, 2018.Therefore, no extension will be made for Kerala. I just wonder that the accounts can be audited just after 31st March and finalize the same well before August 15th?.If so, why the CBDT extended the due dates of July to August and mid of September leaving only 45 days for tax audits which require more tome and energy. If it is not utter disrespect to the tax payers and other stakeholders who form a great deal for nation building. I find myself difficult to decipher the attitude of CBDT.

  3. Sandeep Singh says:

    Sir

    Please once extend due date 31.10.2018 ti 30.11.2018. we are working late night for complete the work on time. Required more time for work complete. so please extend up to 30.11.2018

  4. v sreenivas says:

    Sir
    what is the benefit extention of time for 15days that is 30.09.2018 to 15.10.2018.we are requesting you to extend m atleast upto 31.10.2018

  5. Devesh says:

    Govt extended date till 15/10/18, bheek Jaise diya hai extension, this govt becoming very rude day by day, we should think for change in 2019 election

  6. CA Rajendra B Joshi says:

    Whenever there is need to extend the due date as suggested by our country’s premier body ICAI and its members who are de facto responsible for Income Tax Compliance, their say has to be considered, that too for guanine reasons. It is unfair very time to go in public interests to the High Courts or Supreme courts for redresal. This shows utter apathy towards the responsible people by Departmental Authorities.

  7. GRA says:

    ना मंदिर जाते हैं, ना मदीना जाते है।
    हम CA है , आफिस के सिवा कही’ना जाते हैं।

    ना पूजा करते हैं, ना अदा कोई नमाज़ करते है।
    हम CA है, कर अदा करनेवालो का return भरते है।

    ना गाने सुना करते हैं, ना गज़ले सुना करते हैं।
    हम CA हैं, रोज़ सरकारी फरमान सुना करते हैं।

    अनजान लोगों के दुःख-दर्द कुछ ऐसे पहचान लेते है।
    हम CA हैं, client देख कर
    उस की paying capacity सब जान लेते हैं।

    ना गीता, ना बाइबिल, ना क़ुरान के लिए लड़ते है।
    हम CA है, Companies act income tax, GST के लिए लड़ते है।

    ना डिस्को में जाते हैं हम, ना डेट पे जाते हैं,
    हम CA है, अक़सर घर देर से जाते है।

    खुद ही कहानी लिखते है और खुद ही डायरेक्टर होते हैं।
    हम CA हैं, हमारे अपने परदे, अपने थिएटर होते है।

    हसरतें हूबहू है, ख़ुदा नहीं, हम भी बनना इंसान भला चाहते है।
    हम CA है, चाहे fees मिले या नही, कुछ भी हो अपने client का भला चाहते हैं।

    ना खाकी पे एतबार है , ना खद्दर पे इतना भरोसा करते है।
    हम CA है, लोग हमारे signature पे कितना भरोसा करते है।

    इश्क़-महरूनी, सर्द-ग़ुलाबी और धानी हम पर सब रँग फ़ब लेते है।
    हम CA हैं, सर झुकाये टेबल पर बैठे देर रात तक, जीवन के सब रंग ढक लेते है।

    एकल व्यक्ति भी खड़ा रहता है, उद्योगपति भी खड़ा रहता है।
    ये CA का दिल है,
    देश प्रेम है उन्नति की ऒर,
    इंसानियत भीतर रहती है, भेदभाव बाहर खड़ा रहता हैं।

  8. MURUGESAN says:

    Sir
    Most of the time login of Income tax e-filing website is slow and logout without any information. And also this year e-filing work is more for collecting the data’s from the clients. Digital signature process on filing the Tax Audit Report is also very slow. Please arrange to extend the due date of filing tax audit to 31.10.2018.

  9. CA T,A,P,VARADAKUTTI says:

    Charitable Trust running educational institution having gross receipts of less than one crore is exempted under section 10(23c) (iiiad) and need not get any approval of exemption under IT Act and income is automatically exempted under section 10(23c) (iiiad).However,ITR-7 is not validated unless the approval number and date and IT authority is filled up and ITR-7 could not be filed.The ITR will be treated as defective by the IT Department even, if filed.What is the solution? It happen for AY 2017-18 also ,Please advice

  10. PURNENDU RANJAN says:

    It is learned from the confirmed sources of our confirmed sources that #CBDT is in favour of extending TaxAudit Due Date by 1 month. Notification by Monday evening. But my request is to continue working till we get notification officially. Happy Working.!!!

  11. Priya says:

    FM sir,
    Please instruct CBDT to extend due date to 31.10.2018. No offence Sir, we know you are not keeping well and we do not want to put lot of pressure on you. Please take rest for another month and let us also heave a sigh of relief and complete our work.

  12. SHABBIR PATEL says:

    PLEASE EXTEND THE DUE DATE TILL 31ST DECEMBER 2018 FOR INCOME TAX AUDITS
    AS DUE DATE FOR GSTR1 IS 31-10-2018
    WE HAVE TO RECONCILE THE SAME WITH INCOME TAX & GST,
    WE ARE WORKING DAY NIGHT
    AS THE GOVERNMENT SITES ARE NOT WORKING / SLOW DURING THE DAY TIME

  13. GRA says:

    As a last resort ICAI and the Tax professional fraternity should immediately approach Mr. Anil Ambani to get Tax audit due date extension , as he alone in India can Influence the Indian government ( He alone is equal to 125 crore Indians ! )

  14. Alam says:

    FM and PM might planned that if they will not extend the date then they would collect more revenue in the form of penalty which will be useful in 2019 election though they all aware that they have not any chance in up coming election.

  15. Shahul says:

    Sir so many association filed representation for extend. Each association having more than 10000 c a AS members at the same time Icaa requested 3 times. Then Gujrath filed writ in high court then meerut handed open letters still they not understing our pains and problems means what but I got fully hope that our Fm definitely with us today he going to extend the date

  16. Omprakash Dhoot says:

    Now a days accountants are working as fast as BRUCE LEE…
    GST Returns, IT Returns, ROC Returns Old VAT Audits, CST Assessment, Reconciliation of GST Returns etc. along with day to day work. Government should try these type of returns for Politicians like what funds they received and where they used the same. Then only they can understand problems of businessmen and common public.

  17. Sudip Chaudhuri says:

    Sabhi Professional Organisations (ICAI, BAR Association, Practitioners’ Association etc.) CBDT or Govt. ko request kar chuke hai ke please Due Date extend kar dijiye lekin phir bhi Govt. abhi tak chup baythe hue hai. Yeh hai is Govt. ki ACCHE DIN. Sooch raha hu agar yeh Govt. BURE DIN layenge to hum sob Practitioners, Assesses logo ka kya hal hoga ? Aur hamare DESH MATA ki bhi haal kya hogi ? Kyun ki yaha Public ka Maan ki Baat to koi sunta hi nehi.

  18. GURMUKH says:

    SIR JI TEEN BAR REQUEST KARNE KE BAAD BHI AGAR SARKAR NAHI MANTI HAI TO YE SAMJHIYE
    KI SARKAR ICAI KO KITNA IMPORTANCE DETI HAI
    AAP BHI APANA IMPORTANCE NEXT ELECTION ME INKE AGAINST VOTE KARKE DIKHA DIJIYEGA

    DEAF GOVERMENTS ONLY HEAR THE VOICE OF VOTES

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