New Delhi: The income tax (I-T) department said on Monday the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITRs) for financial year 2016-17 has been extended till 5 August.

On Sunday, a top official had said the last date for filing of ITRs will not be extended beyond 31 July deadline.

“The last date for filing of ITRs remains 31 July. There are no plans to extend this deadline. The department has already received over 2 crore returns filed electronically. The department requests taxpayers to file their return in time,” the official said.

The department has also issued advertisements in leading national dailies in the last few days stating that taxpayers should disclose their income “correctly” and file their ITRs on or before 31 July.

The linking of Aadhaar number with the PAN (Permanent Account Number) of a taxpayer has also been made mandatory for filing of an ITR, beginning 1 July.

The department has also asked taxpayers to declare cash deposits made in bank accounts aggregating to Rs2 lakh or more, post demonetisation between 9 November-30 December last year, in the ITRs.

Source:livemint.com