Government to modify new income tax return forms

Government today said it has decided to "modify" the new Income Tax Return (ITR) forms in wake of concerns raised over them.

The Income Tax department had notified new income tax return forms on April 15. In the new ITR-2, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, the information relating to foreign travel which has been sought to be captured is as per the recommendation of Special Investigation Team on Black Money constituted as per directions of the Supreme Court. 

Such information can help in developing risk profiles for detection of evasion of tax, he said in the written reply to the Rajya Sabha, adding that these details are not required in ITR-1 or ITR-4S which is filed by majority of individual taxpayers.

"The government has received representation on the new return forms notified on April 15, 2015 and taking into account concerns raised, the government has decided to modify the return forms," Jaitley said. ITR-1 (SAHAJ) is for individuals having income from salary/one house property/income from other sources. ITR-2 is for individuals and HUFs not having business/professional income. ITR-4S is for individuals/HUFs deriving business income and such income is computed in accordance with special provisions (44AD and 44AE).

The Finance Minister also said the government has constantly endeavored to make the ITR filing procedure simple and hassle free with the introduction of electronically filed ITR forms in 2006-07. The process of electronic filing has been made simpler over the years, he added.

As a result, during 2014-15, 3.41 Crore returns were filed electronically which constituted 87 per cent of the all the returns filed in the fiscal. The government has also provided free ITR preparation software with the facility of pre-filled tax payment and tax deduction columns in the ITR to avoid data entry and mistakes.