The newly created, much touted income tax portal launched on June 7, 2021, has received backlash from users, as it is filled with multiple technical glitches. The Bengaluru-based IT major Infosys is the developer of the new website.
In order to ease the process of income tax filing for taxpayers, India Post will now be allowing ITR filing at post office CSC counters.
This means that taxpayers will now have the option of filing their income tax returns at the nearest post office.
ITR Filing at CSC Counters
CSC stands for Common Services Centre, an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), GOI. They serve as access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society.
People can also avail several other government benefits and information through CSC counters.
In a move which would allow taxpayers to comfortably pay their I-T returns in every corner of the country, India Post has allowed them to do so at the nearest post office Common Services Centres (CSC) counters.
This would benefit lakhs of salaried taxpayers, especially at a time when the income tax website is marred with glitches.
India Post recently tweeted, “Now no need to travel far to file your income tax returns. You can easily access income tax return services at your nearest post office CSC counter. #AapkaDostIndiaPost”.
What Problems are the New I-T Website Posing?
The new income tax portal was launched on June 7, 2021. However, due to multiple tech glitches observed on the site, FM Nirmala Sitharaman conducted a meeting with ministry members and officials from Infosys on June 22.
While it was expected that all the pending issues would fully resolve shortly after the June 22 meeting, there still persists some technical challenges and glitches on the website, though lower in volume.
Chartered accountants, overseas firms and users filing the income tax return on the website are lodging complaints of existing glitches and in some cases, missing or non-functional forms and certificates on the website.
The Income Tax department has informed that it is constantly working together with Infosys to resolve the existing issues on the IT portal.
“The Department is also taking corrective measures based on feedback from taxpayers, tax professionals and representatives of ICAI to provide taxpayers with a smooth e-filing experience,” stated the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).