CBDT Issues This Order To Regularise ITRs Verified Through EVC During 7th June To 30th September

Owing to technical problems in the new e-filing portal of the Income Tax Department, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued a directive on Friday to regularise Income Tax Returns (ITRs) verified using EVC instead of DSC as required under IT Rule 12 during 07/06/2021 to 30/09/2021. CBDT has said in a statement that "Due to technical issues in the e-filing portal, certain returns of income furnished electronically under Section 142(1), 148, 153A and 153C of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) during the period from 07/06/2021 to 30/09/2021, were/are being allowed to be verified through Electronic Verification Code (EVC) though these are otherwise required to be verified through Digital Signature (DSC) as per Rule 12 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962."

Because the aforementioned income returns were not submitted and verified in compliance with Rule 12, the Assessing Officers may regard them as not there; absent causing inconvenience to the taxpayers. On the basis of the aforementioned, CBDT IN exercising its powers under Section 119(2)(a) of the Act has declared that all returns of income filed electronically under Sections 142(1), 148, 153A, and 153C of the Act during the period from 07/06/2021 to 30/09/2021 and verified using an Electronic Verification Code rather than a Digital Signature will be deemed to have been filed and verified in accordance with Rule 12.

CBDT has also further added that "The regularisation of such returns shall be immediately brought to the notice of the Assessing Officers concerned, through ITBA by DGIT (Systems) so that such returns are not treated as non-est."

The Income Tax Department has also declared on Friday via its Twitter handle that Gross Direct Tax collections for FY 2021-22, as on 22.09.2021, at Rs. 6.46 lakh crore register a growth of 47% over collections of the corresponding period in the preceding year. Net Direct Tax collections at Rs. 5.71 lakh crore have grown at over 74% in the same period. Cumulative Advance Tax collections for FY 2021-22 are at Rs. 2,53,353 crore, showing growth of about 56% over collections of corresponding period of preceding year. Advance Tax collections for 2nd quarter of current fiscal, at Rs. 1.72 lakh crore, are up by 51.50% over FY2020-21, for more information click here.