An Overview of the Process of e-Filing of Returns

What is e-Filing The process of electronically filing Income tax returns through the internet is known as e-Filing. It is mandatory for Companies and Firms requiring statutory audit u/s 44AB to submit the Income tax returns electronically for AY 2007-08. Any Company/Firm requiring statutory audit u/s 44AB return submitted without a e-Filing receipt will not be accepted. e-filing is possible with or without digital signature.

Relevant Notifications, Circulars & Instructions 2006-07 & 2007-08 New forms ITR1 to ITR 8 for AY 2007-2008 notified on 14th May’07. Circular no. 3/2007 issued on 25th May’07 regarding acceptance of paper returns for companies and firms covered by 44AB under certain circumstances. Circular no 9/2006 - Exhaustive explanation of the entire scheme of e-Filing for Public. Circular No 12/ 2006 – E-filing not mandatory for Representative Assessee. Instruction no. 7 dt 10/10/2006 - Exhaustive explanation & other guidelines for department of the entire scheme of e-Filing for Public. Vide Notification No. 128/2006, dated 1-6-2006 S.O. 848 (E), Form 2F was notified &Vide NOTIFICATION NO. 189/2006, dated 24-7-2006 Forms 1, 2, 3, 3B were notified.

Relevant Notifications, Circulars & Instructions Historical Perspective Vide Notification No. 253 of 2004, dated 30th Sep., 2004 S.O.1073(E), Electronic Furnishing of Return of Income Scheme, 2004 was notified for e-Filing of returns: An eligible person may, at his option, furnish his return of income which he is required to furnish under sub-section (1) of section 139 of the Act for the assessment year 2004-05 and any subsequent assessment year, to an e-Return intermediary. Digital signature, e-return, e-return intermediary were defined in this scheme

Types of e-Filing … AY 2007-08 There are three ways to file returns electronically Option 1: Use digital signature in which case no paper return is required to be submitted Option 2: File without digital signature in which case ITR-V form is to filed with the department. This is a single page receipt cum verification form. Option 3: File through an e-return intermediary who would do e-Filing and also assist the Assessee file the ITR V Form .

New IT Returns – Annexure-less Forms For Individuals, HUF Select appropriate Income Tax Return (ITR) Preparation Software ITR-1 ITR-2 ITR-3 ITR-4 Individual & HUF 1 Income from Salary/Pension ▪ 2 Income from Other Sources (only Interest income or Family Pension) 3 Income/Loss from Other Sources 4 Income/Loss from House Property 5 Capital Gains/Loss on sale of investments/property 6 Partner in a partnership Firm 7 Income from Proprietary Business/Profession

New IT Returns – Annexure-less Forms For Association of Persons (AoP), Body of Individuals (BoI), Local Authority, Companies, Trusts, Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) Return Select appropriate Income Tax Return (ITR) Preparation Software ITR-5 ITR-6 ITR-7 ITR-8 Firms, AoP, BoI, LA Companies Trusts Only FBT 1 Income/Loss from Other Sources ▪ 2 Income/Loss from House Property 3 Capital Gains/Loss on sale of investments/property 4 Income/Loss from Business 5 Fringe Benefit Tax ITR-7 will not be available for e-Filing

Change in Procedure of e-Filing Type Change For Digitally signed Returns No change Paper Returns – Two step Procedure After uploading data – Instead of filing paper return Assessee to file verification Form Called ITR-V (Combination of Acknowledgement of e-return & Verification) Paper Returns – through e -intermediaries

e-Filing Process – At a glance Select appropriate type of Return Form Download Return Preparation Software for selected Return Form. Fill your return offline and generate a XML file. Register and create a user id/password Login and click on relevant form on left panel and select "Submit Return" Browse to select XML file and click on "Upload" button On successful upload acknowledgement details would be displayed. Click on "Print" to generate printout of acknowledgement/ITR-V Form.

e-Filing Process – At a glance Incase the return is digitally signed, on generation of "Acknowledgement" the Return Filing process gets completed. You may take a printout of the Acknowledgement for your record. Incase the return is not digitally signed, on successful uploading of e-Return, the ITR-V Form would be generated which needs to be printed by the tax payers. This is an acknowledgement cum verification form. The tax payer has to fill-up the verification part and verify the same. A duly verified ITR-V form should be submitted with the local Income Tax Office within 15 days of filing electronically. This completes the Return filing process for non-digitally signed Returns.

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