SANJANA Dasgupta, 28, hasn’t filed her tax returns in the last seven years. Call it laziness or sheer ignorance, either way she didn’t see the need to file returns till date.

Sanjana’s reasons:
1. For the first three years, my salary was not taxable. So, why would I be expected to file returns?
2. In the fourth year, my salary came under the tax slab. My employer has been deducting tax at source from my salary ever since. So, what’s the point in filing returns when I am already paying taxes?

"All right, then why do you want to file tax returns, now?” I asked.
”I have to travel abroad in couple of months. During my visa interview at the embassy they asked me to produce my tax returns for three or four years. I didn’t even know I was required to submit these documents for visa purpose,” said Sanjana
”What do you plan to do, now?”
”I don’t know. I am lost,” said Sanjana

Here's help for Sanjana and many others like here:
You need to file your income tax return if your income is higher than the exemption limit. For the assessment year 2008-09, the basic exemption limit is:

Men	Rs 1.50 lakh
Women	Rs 1.80 lakh
Senior citizens	Rs 2.25 lakh

If you earn more than the exemption limit, you have to file your returns. This holds true even if you are not eligible to pay tax.

Chartered accountant and a partner at Sudit K Parekh & Co, Ameet Patel says, “Sanjana has contravened the provision of Income-Tax by not having filed returns for the past many years despite earning income above the threshold limit. This, by itself, is enough to land her in trouble with the Income-tax Department. The assessment officer can reopen and scrutinise Sanjana's earlier assessment. If her stakes are very high, it could also lead to prosecution.”

What can Sanjana do now?
Patel says, “The best option would be to file the returns for the financial years ended March 2007 and March 2008 on an urgent basis. She can submit copies of the tax return along with a copy of the Form 16 for the year ended March 2006 for the VISA application. However, she cannot file the returns for any of the earlier years as they are time barred.”

Tax expert Sandeep Shanbhag confirms the same. He says, "As on date, she can file returns for a total of two years. If she files return after 31 July 2009 (the last date for financial year '08-'09 is 31 July 2009), it will be termed as a 'belated return' and the same can be submitted anytime up to 31 March 2011."

Reasons why you should file returns
”That’s not the only time you are required to produce copies of tax returns, you know?” I said.
”What?! There are more instances?” Sanjana asked.

Apart from the fact that it is legally binding on you and you might need it for your visa, returns come handy when you want to take a loan. Banks usually require you to submit income tax returns.
So, it is usually for your benefit that you file returns.

Filing late
These are the consequences of filing your returns late:
1. In case Sanjana doesn't file before 31 March, 2009, she will be liable for a penalty of Rs 5,000.
2. In case Sanjana owes taxes to the exchequer, she will have to pay interest at 1 per cent per month.
3. In case of refund, interest will be calculated from the date she filed returns instead of 1st April
4. In case of loss, she will not be allowed to transfer it to next year.
5. In case Sanjana has made a mistake in original return, she will not be allowed to revise her return.

Read:

• I went out of town, couldn't claim my tax refund
• Didn't file tax returns? Plan of action for late Latifs!
  

Illustration: Vaibhav Shirke

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