Expect I-T portal glitches to be sorted out in 2-3 weeks: ICAI

NT NETWORK

Panaji

With glitches continuing to hit the new income tax portal, chartered accountants (CAs) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), western region, on Thursday, said that they expect at least two-three weeks for the snags in the portal to get fixed.

The union finance ministry has sought the assistance of the accountants’ body in ironing out the glitches in the income tax portal.

Commenting on the difficulties in filing income tax returns on the new portal, C V Chitale, chairman, direct taxes committee, ICAI, said that the body is working with software developers and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in streamlining the website and addressing the issues faced by
tax payers.

“Since the first day of the new tax portal being launched on June 7, 2021, it was realised that it was not appropriate.  At ICAI, we do not believe in criticising the government. But had we been consulted when the portal was being designed the problem would not have occurred,” said Chitale.

He added that once the new portal starts functioning properly it would “certainly help tax payers, the government and tax councils. “Presently there are various deadlines being kept to correct the malfunctions in the portal. By 2022, all the changes suggested by ICAI are expected to be incorporated fully,” said Chitale.

He said that CAs are being globally sought and the market for the profession has opened up ever since the union government included services in the list of export items. “CAs sitting in Goa can easily accept international assignments,”
said Chitale.

A chartered accountant team from ICAI western region is currently in the state visiting the local branch. Earlier, during the day, the team along with Pradip Kakodkar, chairman, ICAI-Goa met Mauvin Godinho, Minister of Panchayats and Nilesh Cabral, Power Minister to offer their help in development of the state. “The ICAI body has several programmes to encourage Goans to take up the profession and is collaborating with Goa University to start undergraduate training in accountancy,” disclosed Kakodkar.