Officials claimed that 5,29,66,509 tax payers filed ITR for the current financial year, an increase of 60% from the previous year. The IT Department received 22 lakh ITRs via e-filing on 31 August till 7 pm.
These figures are however expected to rise for two reasons. One, ITR filing is open till midnight. And two, flood hit Kerala received extension till September 15.
About 3.2 cr ITR was filed the previous year. Two reasons are cited for the increase in numbers. First is the expansion of tax base after demonetization and second is the introduction of penalties for late filing.