As per the department of income tax, an income tax assesse who fails to file the return of income within the stipulated timeline can still submit the belated ITR.
What is Belated return?
Income tax return that is not furnished on or before the due date specified under Section 139 (1) is referred as belated return. The belated return is filed under section 139(4) of the Act. Also, the belated return can be furnished by a person in case he fails to file a return within the time period allowed under a notice issued under section 142(1).
Belated ITR can be filed either before the completion of the assessment year or by the end of the relevant assessment year.
Deadline to file ITR
- The deadline to file ITR for the financial year 2019-20 has been extended to January 10, 2021, from the earlier deadline of December 31, 2020
- In case if an individual was required to file the return and failed to do so, then not to worry and they have an option to file ITR.
- CBDT issues press release along with notification for extension of due dates for filing ITR under the Income tax Act, 1961 for AY 2020-21 from 31st March 2021 to 31st May 2021.
Benefits of Filing ITR on or before deadline
1. Banks can ask for a copy of tax returns for Loan Approval (vehicle loan, House Loan etc.)
2. To Claim Income Tax Refund, you will have to file an ITR
3. You will be able to carry forward losses to subsequent years, which can be used to set off against income of subsequent years.
4. In order to Avoid Penalty
Step-by-step guide to file ITR
1. Collect required documents : such as Form 16, salary slips, and interest certificates etc.
2. Download and check Form 26AS.
3. Cross-check your TDS certificates with Form 26AS.
4. Rectify the errors in Form 26AS, if any.
5. Compute total income for the financial year.
6. Compute your tax liability.
7. Calculate final tax payable, if any.
8. File ITR (Original / Belated ) (Refer next Slides).
9. E-verification acknowledgement.
10. Department will process return after verification.
Steps to file income tax return
1. Go to e-filing portal at https://incometaxindiaefilling.gov.in.
2. If already registered on the portal, click on ‘Login Here” to login to e-filing portal.
3. If not already registered on e-filing portal. Click on “Register Yourself”
4. Select the ITR filing option, select the assessment year, form number and filing type namely original or revised return.
5. Select ‘prepare and submit online’
6. Select the pre-validated bank account, where you want to receive the Income Tax refund if you are eligible for any.
Disadvantages of Filing Belated ITR
- Taxpayer liable to pay TAX along Simple Interest (with 1% per month as per Sec 234A)
- Late fee under Section 234F (Refer next slides)
- Not able to carry forward losses to subsequent years.
Late fee under Section 234F
- As per the changed rules notified under section 234F of the Income Tax Act 1961, filing your ITR after the deadline, can make you liable to pay a maximum penalty of Rs 10,000.
- Example : – If you file your ITR for FY 2019-20 on or before 10th January 2021 ( 15th February for audit and transfer pricing cases), no penalty will be levied.
- For returns filed after 10th January, the penalty limit will be increased to Rs. 10,000.
- Relief to small taxpayers, the IT department has stated that if your total income is not more than Rs 5 lakh, the maximum penalty levied for delay will only be Rs. 1,000.
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