Ministry of Finance Achieves Record Surge in Income Tax Returns Filing for A.Y. 2023-2024
In a remarkable milestone, the Income-tax Department, operating under the Ministry of Finance, has witnessed an impressive surge in the filing of Income-tax Returns (ITRs) for the Assessment Year (A.Y.) 2023-2024. As of December 31, 2023, an outstanding 8.18 crore ITRs have been filed, marking a noteworthy year-on-year increase of 9% compared to the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year when 7.51 crore ITRs were filed.
Streamlining Tax Compliance through Innovative Measures
The Income Tax Department’s proactive initiatives have played a pivotal role in encouraging taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations efficiently. The integration of the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) has been a game-changer, allowing taxpayers to seamlessly review their financial transactions. Substantial pre-filled data, covering aspects such as salary, interest, dividend, personal information, tax payments, TDS-related information, brought forward losses, and MAT credit, has significantly streamlined the compliance process.
Digital Transformation with TIN 2.0
In the Financial Year 2023-2024, the Income Tax Department introduced the TIN 2.0 digital e-pay tax payment platform, fully functional on the e-filing portal, replacing the OLTAS payment system. TIN 2.0 offers user-friendly options for e-payment of taxes, including Internet Banking, NEFT/RTGS, OTC, Debit Card, payment gateway, and UPI. Notably, TIN 2.0 has facilitated real-time crediting of taxes to taxpayers, contributing to a more efficient and faster ITR filing process.
Incentivizing Early Filing through Outreach Initiatives
To further incentivize early filing, the Income Tax Department conducted over 103.5 crore targeted outreaches through e-mail, SMS, and various creative campaigns. This proactive effort resulted in a commendable 9% increase in the number of ITRs filed for A.Y. 2023-24 by December 31, 2023.
Responsive Helpdesk Support
The e-filing Helpdesk team has been instrumental in addressing approximately 27.37 lakh queries from taxpayers, providing support and guidance during peak filing periods. The team’s comprehensive support includes inbound calls, outbound calls, live chats, WebEx sessions, and co-browsing sessions. Additionally, the team efficiently handled queries received on the Department’s Twitter handle through Online Response Management (ORM), proactively reaching out to taxpayers and stakeholders to address various issues in near real-time.
Urgent Call to Action
In light of these accomplishments, the Income Tax Department urges taxpayers to verify any unverified ITRs within 30 days of filing to avoid potential consequences. The Department remains committed to providing effective and user-friendly services, ensuring a smoother and more efficient tax filing experience for all taxpayers.
*****
Ministry of Finance
A record of over 8.18 crore Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed for A.Y. 2023-2024 upto 31.12.2023; Y-o-Y increase of 9%
Income Tax Department made over 103.5 crore outreaches through targeted e-mail, SMS and other creative campaigns
e-filing Helpdesk team handled approximately 27.37 lakh queries from taxpayers during the year upto 31.12.2023
Digital e-pay tax payment platform TIN 2.0 enabled user-friendly options for e-payment of taxes and real time credit of taxes to taxpayers making ITR filing easier and faster
Posted On: 01 JAN 2024
The Income-tax Department has recorded a surge in filing of Income-tax Returns (ITRs), resulting in a new record of8.18 croreITRsfor the A.Y. 2023-2024 filed upto 31.12.2023 as against 7.51 crore ITRs filed upto 31.12.2022. This is9%more than the total ITRs filed for A.Y. 2022-23. The total number of audit reports and other forms filed during the period is1.60 crore,as against1.43 croreaudit reports and forms filed in the corresponding period of preceding year.
It is also observed that a large number of taxpayers did their due diligence by comparing data of their financial transactions by viewing their Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS). A substantial portion of the data for all ITRs was prefilled with data pertaining to salary, interest, dividend, personal information, tax payment including TDS related information, brought forward losses, MAT credit, etc to further ease compliance by taxpayers. The facility was used extensively, resulting in smoother and faster filing of ITRs.
Further, during this F.Y. 2023-2024, a digital e-pay tax payment platform – TIN 2.0 was made fully functional on the e-filing portal, replacing the OLTAS payment system. This enabled user-friendly options for e-payment of taxes such as Internet Banking, NEFT/RTGS, OTC, Debit Card, payment gateway and UPI. TIN 2.0 platform has enabled real time credit of taxes to taxpayers which made ITR filing easier and faster.
To encourage taxpayers to file their ITRs and Forms early, over103.5 croreoutreaches were made through targeted e-mail, SMS and other creative campaigns. Such concerted efforts led to fruitful results with 9% more ITRs being filed for A.Y. 2023-24 till 31.12.2023. The e-filing Helpdesk team handled approximately27.37 lakhqueries from taxpayers during the year upto 31.12.2023, supporting the taxpayers proactively during the peak filing periods. Support from the helpdesk was provided to taxpayers through inbound calls, outbound calls, live chats, WebEx and co-browsing sessions. Helpdesk team also supported resolution of queries received on the X(Twitter) handle of the Department through Online Response Management (ORM), by proactively reaching out to the taxpayers/ stakeholders and assisting them for different issues on near real-time basis.
The IT Department further requests to the taxpayers to verify their unverified ITRs if any, within 30 days of filing the ITR to avoid any consequences.
