BS
A record 81.8 million income tax returns (ITRs) were filed till December 31 for the assessment year 2023-24, up 9 per cent over the 75.1 million filings made in the corresponding period of 2022-23. According to the income tax website, 79.9 million returns were verified and 77.7 million processed during the period.
The low number of ITRs filed by assessees has been one of the major concerns of the revenue authorities. For instance, 58.7 million returns were filed by income tax assessees during the assessment year 2018-19. The number rose to 66.9 million the following year. It, however, declined to 63.9 million in the Covid-hit 2020-21, before rising to 67.5 million in 2021-22, the finance ministry data showed.
According to a statement by the ministry, the number of audit reports and other forms filed during the period was 16 million, as against 14.3 million filed a year ago.
