IT e-filing to be closed for 6 days - to launch new e-filing Portal

The Directorate of Income Tax (Systems) has released a instruction to it's office bearers that the Income Tax Department is in the process of launching a new e-filing portal on June 7, 2021. In preparation for this launch and for migration activities, the existing portal of the Department at www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in would not be available for a brief period of 6 days from 1st June to 6th June 2021 to both taxpayers as well as Departmental Officers.

Consequentially the department has given direction to all the office bearers not to fix any compliance during the above-mentioned period.  Further, directions have been issued to fix hearing of cases or compliances only from 10^th June,2021 onwards, to give taxpayers time to respond on the new system. If, any hearing or compliance which requires submissions online has been scheduled during this period, the same will be preponed or adjourned and the work items would be rescheduled after this period.

The new e-filing portal (www.incometax.gov.in) is aimed at providing taxpayer convenience and a modern, seamless  experience to taxpayers:

• New taxpayer friendly portal integrated with immediate processing of Income Tax Returns(ITRs) to issue quick refunds to taxpayers;
• All interactions and uploads or pending actions will be displayed on a single dashboard for follow-up action by taxpayer;
• Free of cost ITR preparation software available online and offline with interactive questions to help taxpayers fill ITR even without any tax knowledge, with pre-filling, for minimizing data entry effort;
• New call center for taxpayer assistance for immediate answers to taxpayer queries with FAQs, Tutorials, Videos and chatbot/live agent;
• All key portal functions on desktop will be available on Mobile App which will be enabled subsequently for full anytime access on mobile network;
• New online tax payment system on new portal will be enabled subsequently with multiple new payment options using netbanking, UPI, CreditCard and RTGS/NEFT from any account of taxpayer in any bank, for easy payment of taxes.

DIRECTORATE OF INCOME TAX (SYSTEMS)

ARA Center, Ground Floor, E-2, Jhandewalan Extension,

New Delhi— 110055.

D.O. F. No. Pr. DGIT(S)/486-2020-21

New Delhi, 19th May 2021

Dear

Subject: Launch of new E-filing Portal of the Income Tax Department – Non-availability of e-Filing services from 01.06.2021 to 06.06.2021 Reg.

The Income Tax Department is going to launch its new E-filing portal www.incometax.gov.in on June 7th, 2021. In preparation for this launch and for migration activities, the existing portal of the Department at www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in would not be available for a brief period of 6 days from 1st June to 6^th June 2021.

Officers in field including AOs, CIT (A), PCIT interact with taxpayers through E-proceedings over the E-filing portal directly or through the NeAC/NFAC for:

i. Issue of Notices, SCNs and getting response to various E-Proceedings

ii. Conducting of Video conference or adjournments

iii. Issuing Questionnaires, summons, letters etc

iv. Responding to E-Nivaran or Outstanding Tax demand etc

v. Communicating final orders in Assessment, Appeals, Exemption, Penalties etc

Apart from this Officers access the E-filing portal to view ITRs, Statutory forms, MIS etc.

In preparation for the transition to the new system, the existing E-filing portal will NOT be available to both taxpayers as well as Departmental Officers for a period of 6 days from 1^st June to 6^th June 2021. Hence, it is requested that all officers may be immediately informed about this so that they may not fix any compliance dates during this period. All Officers may be directed to fix any hearing or compliances only from June 10^th onwards to give taxpayers time to respond on the new system. If they have already scheduled any hearing or compliance which requires submissions online during this period, they may prepone or adjourn the hearing and reschedule the work items after this period, etc.

They may also view/ download any submissions in E-proceedings prior to June 1st and the PDF of any ITRs and non-ITR forms that may be needed by them in advance so that they can continue to work in ITBA system including completion of assessment proceedings where no further interaction with taxpayer is necessary. It is clarified that the ITBA system and the CPC systems will continue to function for assessment related functions. All Orders, notices issued during this period, however, will be made visible to the taxpayer only after the new portal goes live on June 7^th, 2021.

I would also encourage all Officers to complete all their urgent tasks involving interactions with taxpayers prior to June 1^st to avoid the blackout period or typical initial teething issues in the transition. I would like to thank all officers for their patience during the switchover to the new E-filing portal of the Department and seek your good wishes.

With regards,

Yours

Principal Director General of Income Tax (Systems)

Central Board of Direct Taxes

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