IT returns are taxing

Do people filing IT returns actually have four months — April 1, 2018 to July 31 — to file their returns?

For filing returns, one requires form 16 from his employer and form 16A from bank/treasury. But government has allowed time up to June 15 for these deductors to issue these forms, leaving only one-and-a-half months for assesees. Often offices issue form 16 and 16A even later. Hence practically, the net time available for crores of people reduces to one month. Sometimes there are errors in form 16 and 16A, which takes 10 days to a month to get corrected.

Considering all these delays, it should be ensured the form 16 and 16A are issued at least by April 15 in future, and if people are fined for for non-submission July 31, proper software should be developed for this.

It may also be noted that IT forms and instructions are not uploaded by IT department, even by March 31. To verify this, the Government can call for the dates of uploading these forms this year and see for itself. Steps should be taken to ensure that in future these forms are uploaded/released at least by February. Linking of Aadhaar could delay things further. It is unfair to impose fines for filing returns after the last date as the reasons are beyond the taxpayer’s control.

Even a person who is not expected to file return based on his income, will have to file return just to get back TDS deducted by the banks for the interest on term deposits. If this return is filed after July 31, heavy fine awaits him.

A person gets fined for not filing his returns by July 31, even after he has paid all his taxes and awaiting refund. The present rule is very cruel to taxpayers.

The govt must scrap the current fines and maximum fine should be limited to ₹1000 and must be imposed only if there are tax dues of over ₹50,000, after July 31 in the assessment year. And this should be imposed only if tax return is not filed by December 31 in the assessment year. The government must seriously consider these suggestions.

Thiruvananthapuram

With reference to to the Editorial “Reforming education” (July 26), the Indian Education system has to be redesigned foster creative thinking in a collaborative environment. Under Entrepreneurship Development Cell, an endeavour called ‘Innovation and Incubation Centre’ has already been functioning in many of the higher educational institutions to boost creativity and entrepreneurial spirit among college students.

In times of rising cost of education, providing scholarships for underprivileged students to address poor enrolment in tertiary education would only boost enrolment.

It is sad to note that even some renowned educational institutions in India, seemed to be treading on the beaten track and not chosen to chalk out a new path.

To kindle the research interest in areas of Science/Technology, Social Sciences there must be a strong collaboration among government, industry and institutions under a strong autonomous body – like UGC or Higher Education Commission of India.

Cuddalore

With reference to “Army looms large in Pakistan polls” (July 25) whichever party comes to power in Pakistan, it will be a threat to India of a magnitude not seen even when Pakistan generals headed the government. One, anti-India terrorists are contesting the election and whether they are in the government or in opposition, the intensity of their activities will go up. Two, none of the parties is headed by someone who may be said have some friendly attitude towards India — a quality which the ousted Nawaz Sharif had. Three if Imran Khan’s party wins, it will be a deadly mixture of hate-India policy. Lastly, the Pakistan army and the ISI will be the real rulers with more powers thus reducing the elected government to a puppet government including Imran Khan’s party as it will be beholden to the Pakistan army chief. PM Narendra Modi will need a novel approach to meet the menace.

Pune

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