It was like a mela at the Income-Tax office this morning with thousands of people thronging the department to meet the July 31 deadline to file their returns.

A few, who were filing their IT returns for the first time, were struggling to fill their forms and were constantly seeking help from department officers at the special counters.

The due date to file Income-Tax returns for tax payers deriving income from salary and from business (non tax audit case) is July 31.

For assessment year 2013-14, it is mandatory for salaried persons having a total income of Rs 5 lakh to file their return of income. The exemption from filing return of income, as in previous assessment years, in 2011-12 and 2012-13, is no longer available for them.

From this year, electronic filing (e-filing) of return of income is mandatory if the total income exceeds Rs 5 lakh (as against Rs 10 lakh in the previous assessment year).

While some do their e-filing from home or office, many prefer going to the IT headquarters (Aayakar Bhawan) in Nungambakam. To handle the last minute rush, the department has set up 34 special counters to help salaried assesses and two help desks and 20 counters for Permanent Account Number verification, said N. Sankaran, Commissioner, Income Tax.

Last year, nearly 1.1 lakh people used the special counters in various parts of Tamil Nadu. This year, the number could be much more. The counters have been put up for three days, he said.

The target for IT collections from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry this financial year is Rs 45,877 crore as against Rs 40,528 crore last year. Till July 25, the department has collected an amount of Rs 8,136 crore, he said.

>raja.simhan@thehindu.co.in

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