Income Tax Audit Deadline Extended to October 7: Key Information for Filers

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The scan of the Due Date Set By ITD for Income Tax Audit has been Extended To 7th October 2024 — Relief For Tax Payers of India This extension was expected due to the technical glitches in the portal that had earlier prevented many taxpayers from filing their returns on time, responding to which the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had said it would extend the deadline. The date for tax audits was originally September 30, with the extension enabling businesses to fulfil audit obligations without getting penalized for time constraints.

Here we are going to discuss the all important things concerning the tax audit date, the important filing of such taxpayers and also what you have to do before this due date.

Income Tax Audit Deadline Extended to October 7: The Why and What

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This means the income tax audit deadline also got extended to October 7, providing some respite for the taxpayers and businesses struggling with compliance. There had been reports of system crashes and delays in processing due to technical glitches on the income tax filing portal.

The move of CBDT is much acclaimed across the entire financial arena, as it provides taxpayers with time to fulfil their audit duties. The I-T audit new due date is applicable for those entities and professionals who are required to furnish the audit reports as per the Income Tax Act, 1961.

What is Tax Audit in India?

In India, the tax audit implies checking entity financials to see whether it is done as per tax laws and guidelines. Tax Audit Filing is Compulsory for Businesses / Professionals having turnover or receipts exceed the specified limit below.

Firms with a turnover of over Rs 1 crore have to carry out a tax audit. The limit is up to Rs 5 crore for digital transactions while those primarily engaged in digital transactions can raise this cap to Rs 10 crore.

For professionals like doctors, lawyers or architects who earn gross receipts of more than Rs 50 lakh in a year will also have to get an audit done.

Those opting for presumptive taxation schemes under Sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE have to mandatorily undergo tax audit if income is declared below-specified limits.

This extra date extension on tax audit has done the same thing — providing more time to these taxpayers for their audit compliances.

Income Tax Filing Deadline Extended: Impact on Taxpayers

Effects of Exhausting The Last Date Of Income Tax Audit on multiple groups

Businesses And Practitioners: Businesses and professionals in NSW now have until October 7 before facing penalties for non-compliance with tax audit laws.
Income Tax Return Filing: The extension in turn has a cascading effect on the last date of filing income tax returns, especially for those taxpayers who are still waiting for audits to be completed.

At what point do taxpayers have to be concerned about penalties?

It noted that if the extended new income tax return filing deadline is missed, it could lead to penalties of 0.5% of turnover, up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh.

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Also read: Section 133(6) of the Income Tax Act

Steps to Take Before the New Income Tax Filing Deadline

The income tax e-filing last date is now revised to October 7, taxpayers should capitalize on the filing date extension. How to ensure compliance:

Organize Your Financial Records: Gather all necessary documents, including invoices, sales records, purchase records and bank statements Effective documentation is essential for an easy audit transition.
Make Use of a Chartered Accountant: Obtaining The Assistance Of A Tax Auditor is Very Important The rules are often nuanced, and professionals can assist in pinpointing discrepancies and maintaining audit compliance.
Get File in advance: You have indeed been given some extra time to attend the tax audit but there is no point waiting until the last moment. This heavy traffic leads to system slowdowns that cause delays and troubles with the monitoring data.

Why Was the Tax Audit Date Extended?

The decision of the fine on tax audit was taken amid several stories of glitches from the earnings tax submitting portal Given that many users were either unable to upload or gain access to their profiles, the new deadline was the only right thing to do so that everyone would have the same chance. High tax filing platform It is no small increase in the number of users and the form and audit submitted.JsonIgnore this problem with income.

This move to extend the tax audit date also ensures that taxpayers are not penalized due to scenarios beyond their control, ie: technology failures etc. The government attempted to do this good faith measure so all compliance could have been achieved for it.

Consequences of Missing the New Tax Audit Date

Taxpayers should remain vigilant: Despite the income tax go-back return filing extension, there will be no relaxation for taxpayers. In case you have not filed the new income tax audit last date, you will incur a penalty of 0.5% of turnover. This can translate into massive loot for small businesses and independent professionals. Not submitting an audit report can also cause issues in subsequent years such as carrying forward losses or claiming any other tax benefit.

Taxpayers are not only asked to file before the income tax filing deadline is extended day, but also to to be accurate with their reports. Errors that are made in haste can result in a tax authority review or reassessment resulting in both significant time and costs.

Related read: GST Audit Time Limit under Section 65 of CGST Act

What’s Next?

However, the extension of the income tax audit deadline to October 7 is a relief for assessments in different parts of India. As for the time limit, everyone has to do their best and avoid this typical last-minute madness to utilize the maximum time extension. By complying in a timely fashion, you can avoid penalties and keep above board on the right side of the law.

The hope is that taxpayers will put this week to good use. It may be possible that the income tax e-filing last date has been postponed, but the the onus still lies on every individual and enterprise to maintain full compliance. Failure to file, henceforth must not be a ground due to technical issues and procedures need to be laid down so that all the filings are much in advance before the audit last date under Income Tax.

The extension also decreases the compliance burden whilst promoting transparency and accuracy in Income tax reporting. Now, everyone will have to use this extra time judiciously to finish their audits and tax returns, or else face the wrath of additional penalties which in turn misbalances the best financial practices!

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Updated on:

October 6, 2024