No Proposal To Extend Deadline For Income Tax Return Filing: Govt

Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said income tax return filing was going on smoothly and by 3pm today, 5.62 crore returns have been filed in total

The last day to file income tax returns is on Friday, 31st December 2021. Image: Getty

 New Delhi: The central government on Friday said that there is no proposal to extend the date for income tax (I-T) return filing.

The last day to file income tax returns is on Friday, 31st December 2021.

During a press conference, Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said income tax return filing was going on smoothly. “By 3pm today, 5.62 crore returns have been filed in total. Today, more than 20 lakh returns were filed. This year 60 lakh more returns have been filed," said Bajaj.

In the press meet, Nirmala Sitharaman, who was alos present, said, “The GST Council meeting has decided to retain the status quo on GST rate on textile to 5 per cent and not raise it to 12 per cent. The issue of GST rate on textile will be sent to the tax rate rationalisation committee which will submit its report by February.” “GST rates on textiles a complex matter," she added.

Sitharaman in her reply to a question on the I-T raid in Kanpur said that law enforcing agencies act on actionable intelligence in conducting raids. The minister said, “Today's Income Tax raids (at the properties of perfume businessmen & SP MLC Pushpraj Jain and others) are also being carried out based on actionable intelligence. Unconnected materials are surfacing in today's IT raids.”

She responded to allegations regarding searches on properties of fragrance businessmen in UP's Kanpur and Unnao. The minister took a dig at Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and said, "Raids were conducted at the right places... Is former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav scared and shaken due to these searches?"

"He (SP chief) should not raise doubts about the professionalism of the organisation. The height of (seized) cash is proof that law enforcement agencies are working honestly... Should we wait for post-poll 'muhurta' or catch the thief today itself?," Sitharaman said.