ITR filing: CBDT extends due dates of TDS compliance in Odisha

ITR filing: As the date for submission for income tax return filing is inching closer, CBDT has decided to give a breather to the residents of Odisha in the wake of cyclone Fani's trail of destruction affecting normal life in the state. According to Ministry of Finance, CBDT has extended due dates of TDS compliance in respect of deductors in Odisha. An official statement said, "With a view to redress genuine hardship faced by the deductors due to the severe disruption of normal life and breakdown of communication systems caused by cyclone "Fani" hitting the state of Odisha on May 3, 2019, CBDT has provided the following relief in TDS compliance to the deductors in the State of Odisha."

According to this directive, CBDT has extended the due date of depositing tax deducted at source (TDS) for the month of April, 2019 from 7th of May, 2019 to the 20th of May, 2019. 

It also extended the due date of filing of quarterly statement of TDS for the last quarter of Financial Year 2018-19 from 31st of May, 2019 to the 30th of June, 2019; besides extending the due date for issue of TDS certificates in Form 16 and 16A from 15th of June, 2019 to 15th of July, 2019.

Notably, cyclone Fani wreaked havoc in the state of Odisha, making landfall with a speed of 175 kilometres per hour to 185 kilometres per hour on the morning of 3 May, 2019. At least 64 people lost their lives in the cyclone, as the state government strived hard to successful evacuate 11,00,000 people against ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’. Puri is the worst-affected district.

In another government directive, the task force set up to draft a new direct tax law to replace the existing Income Tax Act has been given 2-month extension till July 31 to submit its report, which was scheduled to be submitted by May 31. With this extension, the direct tax panel may submit its report after the presentation of full Budget for 2019-20.