Small taxpayers unhappy with changes in I-T return process

The concerns of small taxpayers are far from being over anytime soon as after getting several requests from them, the income tax department has just increased the limit of email account and phone number filing for income tax returns from four to 10.

The concerns of small taxpayers are far from being over anytime soon as after getting several requests from them, the income tax department has just increased the limit of email account and phone number filing for income tax returns from four to 10.

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The recent amendments, however, will hardly provide any respite to small taxpayers, retired officials and shopkeepers — most of whom are not tech savvy and are completely dependent on advcocates for filing their tax returns.

Jatinder Khurana, general secretary, Taxation Bar Association, said: “Most of the retirees, who get pension on the regular basis or other benefits and fall within the income tax slab, cannot avail the computer services or are not familiar (comfortable) with filing their income tax returns online.

Similarly, many shopkeepers and small taxpayers find it difficult to file their income tax returns online.”

Sudheer Goyal, a shopkeeper, said: “I completely rely on my advocate to file income tax return for me. I find it extremely complex to file return online. The department must consider each and every taxpayer, while formulating or amending income tax norms.”

However, the move was not received well by other entities associated with the department, following which the department modified it and increased the limit from four to 10.