Tax office sets August 31 deadline to clear pending ITRs, refunds

Indian tax authorities have set August 31 as the deadline for taxpayers whose income tax returns (ITRs) for six assessment years between 2009-10 and 2014-15 are pending for processing and issue of refunds due to not submitting the ITR-V form for verification.

"In case of returns for Assessment Years (AYs) 2009-10 to 2014-15, which were uploaded electronically by the taxpayer within the time allowed under section 139 of the Act and which have remained incomplete due to non-submission of ITR-V Form for verification, hereby permits verification of such returns also through EVC," the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in an office directive.

"Such verification process must be completed by August 31. As an alternative to EVC, the taxpayer is allowed to send a duly-signed copy of ITR-V to the Central Processing Centre (CPC), Bengaluru, by this date by Speed Post," it said.

CBDT said that all such cases received by August 31 would be processed by November and any interest amount pending on the delayed refund, will be payable to the taxpayer.

Calling it "the final opportunity being provided to the taxpayers to regularise their pending ITRs pertaining to AYs 2009-10 till 2014-15", the CBDT said taxpayers should immediately authenticate their income tax returns by using either the electronic verification by Aadhaar, or bank account-based facility, available on its website, or send a copy of the ITR-V to its CPC Bengaluru by Speed Post by end-August.