May 3 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic: India Extends Certain Compliance Deadlines

Source: IBFD Tax Research Platform News

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has extended various deadlines, including for filing of appeals, objections, tax returns and payment of tax deducted at source, among other things, to ease the compliance burden for affected taxpayers.

Under the Income Tax Act (ITA), the deadlines for the following actions have been extended until 31 May 2021, unless specified otherwise:

  • an appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals) under chapter XX of the ITA for which the last day of filing is 1 April 2021 or thereafter (the deadline is the prescribed deadline under the ITA or 31 May 2021, whichever is later);
  • an objection to the Dispute Resolution Panel under section 144C Of the ITA for which the last day of filing is 1 April 2021 or thereafter (the deadline is the prescribed deadline under the ITA or 31 May 2021, whichever is later);
  • filing of an income tax return in response to a notice under section 148 of the ITA for which the last day of filing is 1 April 2021 or thereafter (the deadline is the prescribed deadline in the notice or 31 May 2021, whichever is later);
  • filing of a belated return under section 139(4) of the ITA and revised return under section 139(5) of the ITA for the assessment year 2020-21 for which the last day of filing is 31 March 2021;
  • payment of tax deducted at source under section 194-IA (purchase of immovable property), section 194-IB (rent paid by certain persons) and section 194M (certain payments made by certain persons) of the ITA and filing of the challan-cum-statement for such tax deducted, which are required to be paid and furnished by 30 April 2021; and
  • a statement in Form No. 61, containing particulars of declarations received in Form No. 60, which is due to be furnished by 30 April 2021.

Under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act (CGSTA), read in conjunction with the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act and Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Act:

  • the filing/furnishing deadlines for the following GST forms have been extended as follows:
    • Form GSTR-1 and IFF for April 2021 (additional 15 days);
    • Form GSTR-4 for financial year 2020-21 (31 May 2021); and
    • Form ITC-04 for January to March 2021 (31 May 2021);
  • for the completion or compliance of any action prescribed under the CGSTA, such as the passing of orders and notices, filing of appeals and furnishing of reports and returns, by any authority or by any person, which falls during the period 15 April 2021 to 30 May 2021, the deadline has been extended until 31 May 2021. If the completion or compliance of any action prescribed under rule 9 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Rule falls within the period 1 May 2021 to 31 May 2021, the deadline has been extended until 15 June 2021; and
  • where a notice has been issued for the rejection of a refund claim and where the time limit for the issuance of an order falls during the period 15 April 2021 and 30 May 2021, the deadline for the issuance of such order has been extended by 15 days after the receipt of the reply to the notice from the registered person or 31 May 2021, whichever is later.

The government also reduced the interest rate from 18% to 0%/9% for delayed GST payments and waived late payment fees for March and April 2021.