Government extends specific Direct Tax timelines in light of the raging pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic raging unabated across the country, and because of requests received from the taxpayers, tax consultants and other stakeholders to further extend various Direct Tax due dates, the Government has decided to extend specific timelines vide Press Release dated April 24 2021.
 
Accordingly, to address the hardships being faced by various stakeholders, the Central Government has decided to extend the time limits to June 30, 2021, in the following cases where the time limit was earlier extended to April 30 2021, through numerous notifications issued under Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation) & Amendment of Certain Provision Act, 2020, namely: -

• The time limit for passing any order for assessment/reassessment under the Act;
• The time limit for passing an order under the direction of DRP under section 144C of the IT Act;
• The time limit for the issuance of notice u/s 148 of the IT Act for reopening assessment where the income has escaped assessment;
• The time limit for sending the intimation of processing of Equalisation Levy u/s. 168 of the Finance Act 2016.

 
The Government has further decided that the time for payment of the amount payable under Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020, without an additional amount, shall be extended to June 30 2021.