YOUR INCOME ONLY FROM SALARY AND BANK/PO INTEREST- NO NEED TO FILL THE TAX RETURNS

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) yesterday notified that salaried individuals having a total income up to Rs 5 lakh after allowable deductions, including salary from one employer and interest income from deposits in a savings bank account of up to Rs 10,000, need not file income tax returns.

                    However, they should get from their employer Form 16 — the certificate of tax deducted at source. The returns-exempt salaried will also have to give details of their interest income from bank deposits to their employer for deduction of income tax at source.

                 If the new rule had not come into force, salaried persons earning more than Rs 3.15 lakh a year would have had to file returns by July 31 this year.

                 Filing returns is a hassle that involves seeking the services of a tax consultant for a fee ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 500, though it can be done by individuals on their own either manually or through an online process which requires the purchase of a digital signature.
  

                 According to CBDT officials, the revised rule, which was announcedin the budget, will benefit 85 lakh income tax assessees. Thenotification mentions only the assessment year 2011-12 but the government is expected to extend the relief.