Income tax dept extends last date for returns by 1 month

New Delhi: The income-tax department has extended the last date for filing returns by one month, following power outages in some states.

Tax payers can now file their returns by 31 August, the Central Board of Direct Taxes said in a statement.

The earlier deadline was 31 July for filing returns for the assessment year 2012-13.

Individuals and HUFs have to mandatorily file their tax returns online if their total income exceeds Rs10 lakh.

In a separate statement, the tax department also relaxed the compulsory e-filing criteria for representative assessees of non-resident Indians and private discretionary trusts that were finding it difficult to file returns online due to some procedural issues with the existing e-filing software.

Both of these taxpayer categories can now submit returns at any income tax filing centre.