IT Dept to open spl return receipt counters

Chennai, July 25 (UNI) The Income Tax Department will open 40 special counters at its office to cope up with the last-minute rush, even as a top official ruled out extension of July 31 deadline for filing of returns by salaried class for the assessment year 2007-08.

Talking to reporters here today, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax C R Ravichandran said the special return receipt counters at the Aayakar Bhawan here would remain open from July 27 to 31 between 1000 hrs and 1730 hrs on all days, including Saturday and Sunday.

Besides, the 40 counters, there would also be help desks to provide answer to general queries, supply return forms and PAN verification. Special counters to receive PAN card applications and for the benefit of senior citizens and physically-challenged would also be set up.

To a question, Mr Ravichandran said there was no question of extending the deadline. "At the moment, July 31 is the last date for filing of returns by salaried tax payers", he added.

He also appealed to the tax payers to write the correct PAN number, and also produce the PAN card as proof while filing returns.

The taxpayers should also fill the TAN number of the employer and the bank account number and the MICR code of Bank account for early processing.

He said the total number of assessees was expected to be higher this year when compared to 3,13,941 filed for the assessment year 2006-07. So far 70,124 people have filed their returns till July 23.

''We expect 2.50 lakh more tax payers to file their returns before the deadline expires'', he added.

He also announced that the collection of tax had almost doubled during the last couple of years and the target for the current year was about Rs 17,000 crore for the Tamil Nadu region.

UNI