Income Tax - Verification of tax-returns for earlier Years pending due to non-filing of ITR-V - CBDT Instructions
UNDER the earlier system of e-filing, in tax-returns which were to be filed electronically without a digital signature, taxpayer had to take printout of ITR-V Form and send it to Centralised Processing Centre ('CPC'), Bengaluru within 120 days of transmitting the data electronically.
In our Post-Budget Seminar in Hyderabad in 2009, a delegate asked the then Member CBDT, Mr. Khan, what he should do if the CPC at Bengaluru does not get the ITR-V sent by ordinary post. He said, "please send it again."
In view of difficulties being faced by the taxpayers in the process, from time to time, relaxation for filing the ITR-V for various Assessment Years was granted so that process of filing the return could be completed. In law, consequences of non filing the ITR-V within the time allowed is significant as such a return is/can be declared Non-est in law and thereafter, all the consequences for Non-Filing a tax return, as specified in the Act follow.
However, inspite of granting relaxation of time for submitting ITR-V Form on various occasions, a large number of such electronically filed returns still remain pending with the income-tax Department for want of receipt of a valid ITR-V Form at CPC, Bengaluru from the taxpayers concerned.
In order to regularize the returns which have either become Non-est or have remained pending due to non-filing/non-receipt of respective ITR-V Form, the Central Board of Direct Taxes ('CBDT') now permits verification of such returns also through EVC.Such verification process must be completed by 31.08.2016. As an alternative to EVC, the taxpayer is allowed to send a duly signed copy of ITR-V to the CPC, Bengaluru by this date by speed post.
Board clarifies that this is the final opportunity being provided to the taxpayers to regularize their pending income-tax returns pertaining to the Assessment Years 2009-2010 till 2014-2015 which were filed as per provisions of section 139 of the Act but were declared Non-est/have remained pending for verification just for want of receipt of a valid ITR-V Form at CPC, Bengaluru.
CBDT Circular No. 13/2016., Dated: May 09, 2016