Government today extended the last date for filing Income Tax return by a week to September 7.

"Due date for filing Income Tax return extended till 7th Sep, 2015," the Finance Ministry said in a tweet.

The earlier date was August 31.

Earlier, the Income Tax department had extended the last date for filing I-T returns by residents of Gujarat to September 7 following disruption of normal life due to agitation over reservation to Patel community in the state.

The tax department has notified a new set of ITR forms, including a three-page simplified one, for taxpayers to file their returns for assessment year 2015-16.

The tax payers base in the country is just over 4 crore.

The government aims to collect Rs 7.98 lakh crore in direct taxes in the current financial year.

PTI