Income-tax department to phase out helpdesks?

MUMBAI: After an initial delay, the income-tax department will set up helpdesks at its BKC office to assist salaried taxpayers in filing returns from Tuesday. Usually, these counters are installed by July 25, a week before the July 31-deadline for filing returns. The delay may indicate that the tax return preparers (TRPs) could be phased out. “Whether helpdesks are set up or not, we do have Aaykar Seva Kendra (ASK) counters in building C-13 which provide general services to taxpayers.They can submit returns here,” said a spokesperson. But ASK counters may not help compute the tax amount or refund.
This year, no notification for helpdesks had been issued until Monday evening. However, I-T officials said TRPs, who man these helpdesks, will be available from Tuesday.
The TRP system was set up six years ago as part of the Centre’s move to help individual assessees fill the complex I-T form and submit their returns. But since then, the Saral form has been “simplified” and it has become mandatory to file returns and claim refund online.