There was fake news in the air especially on Social Media that the due date to furnish income tax returns for the Assessment Year 2019-20 (FY 2018-19) and Assessment Year 2020-21 (FY 2019-20) and the due date to furnish tax audit report for Assessment Year 2020-21 (FY 2019-20) Have been extended up to 31st March 2021. But this news/ update turned out to be fake news.
It seems to be a result of confusion after the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020, was put up in Lok Sabha on 18th September 2020.
The said Bill states that if the last date for compliances 
However, there is a proviso which is a condition or qualification to a tax provision 
However, it needs to be mentioned here that the Bill is not law yet. It has been passed by Parliament but Now it is waiting for the approval of the President. Managing Partner of Brahmayya & Co, Bengaluru, G Srinivas stated that “The Bill that is introduced is currently at the Bill stage and will become an Act after receipt of assent of the Honourable President of India. If the Bill is passed as it is, the Bill will become applicable retrospectively effective from March 31, 2020.”
Real Due Date: So What is the Real Due Date?
The government provided relief to the taxpayers through an ordinance “The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Ordinance 2020” for the compliances between March 20, 2020, and June 29, 2020.
Income Tax Return Filing Due dates
| AY 2019-20 (FY 2018-19) | |
|---|---|
| For Furnishing belated and revised return | 30th September 2020 |
| AY 2019-20 (FY 2018-19) | |
| For Filing the Original Return | 30th November 2020 |
| For Furnishing Tax Audit Report | 31st October 2020 |
The Income Tax Department also extended the relief with two notifications for compliance between 20th March 2020, and 31 December 2020.
| Filing of – ITR | Original Due Date As per Finance Act, 2020 | New due Date after the notifications, even before the bill |
|---|---|---|
| Belated and revised income tax returns for AY2019-20 | March 31, 2020 | September 30, 2020 |
| Original income tax return for AY2020-21 | July 31, 2020 | November 30, 2020 |
| Tax audit report for AY2020-21 | October 31, 2020 | October 31, 2020 |
Some of these provisions have been only included in the Bill presented in Parliament. Thus there is no extension of due dates until March 31, 2020, these are currently rumours only.
G Srinivas further stated in his statement that “The due date for filing of income tax returns 
