Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: The J&K Branch of Northern Indian Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has appealed the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for extension of due date for filing of Income Tax returns for non-audit and audited assesses in the Union Territory of J&K.
In a representation to the Union Finance Minister, the ICAI has explained that because of internet restrictions in J&K since August 5, various stakeholder, businessmen and professionals were restrained from filing their return of income, getting their accounts audited and subsequently filing the tax audit report with the Income Tax Department.
Pointing out that the mobile internet connectivity was restored in the erstwhile State of J&K just few days back and earlier, only broadband internet connections were restored in the month of December that too only in one or two districts of J&K where very few people have this facility, the ICAI said that even in Jammu province, many people were not able to access the internet because of such restrictions.
The ICAI said that there are various assesses who have their daily dealings with the people of Kashmir and Ladakh and they were unable to finalize their books, file return of income tax and get their books audited. Various assesses from the peripheries like Bani, Basohli, Kishtwar, Poonch, Doda, Banihal etc in Jammu province were unable to provide the required information to their counsel/consultants, who are mostly based in Jammu city, the representation explained and added that under these compelling circumstances, it has become impossible to comply with the various statutory compliances laid down under the law.
“Even the Government of India extended dates for non-audit and audit returns till January 31, 2020 for the UT of J&K whereas there was no material change on the ground situations that existed since August 5, 2019,” said the ICAI and submitted that the specified date for filing of Income Tax returns of audit as well as non-audit assesses and filing of Tax audit report under section 139(1), read with section 44AB of the Income Tax for the Assessment Year 2019-20 may be extended to March 30,2020 for the assesses of J&K as well as Ladakh UTs.
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