Tax professionals and chartered accountants have sought an extension of the due date of filing income tax returns from July 31 to August 31 for the assessment year 2022-23.

The Direct Tax Professionals Association (DTPA)has written to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharamanrequesting an extension of the due date for filing tax returns.

The association has cited several factors such as the income tax portal not working to maximum capacity resulting in more time required to file returns as well as technical errors in the portal, delayed introduction of ITR 5 and rising covid cases and flooding in some states as some of thereasons for the central government to consider extending the deadline. The DTPA said the taxpayer needs time to reconcile data of TDS (tax deducted at source) certificates with the Annual InformationStatement (AIS).

Narayan Jain, the chairperson of the representation committee of the DTPA, said that the government must consider an early decision for extending the deadline at least till August 31.

Chandrashekhar VasantChitale, the chairman of the direct taxes committee of theInstitute of Chartered Accountants of India, told The Telegraph that while the committee is not in favour of making a representation because it could be counterproductive for the professionals, the CBDT on its own should take cognizance of the issues being faced by the taxpayers and accordingly consider extending the due dates.