Income Tax E-Filing Portal Issues: Technical Glitches and Solutions

Introduction

This document outlines the technical issues faced in the Income Tax e-filing portal as raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2809, to be addressed to the Minister of Finance on March 21, 2022. It provides insights into income tax collections, website glitches, the impact on assessments, and accountability measures related to the portal.

Income Tax Collection Data

The Income Tax Department has collected the following amounts over the last four financial years:

• 2018-19: ₹1,137,718.48 million
• 2019-20: ₹1,050,680.56 million
• 2020-21: ₹947,176.37 million
• 2021-22 (up to March 8, 2022): ₹1,191,112.88 million

Tax payments are facilitated through the tax payment portal managed by NSDL, accessible at [NSDL E-Tax Payment].

Technical Issues with the E-Filing Portal

Website Glitches and Delays

Since the launch of the e-filing portal on June 7, 2021, taxpayers have reported various issues, including:

• Login problems
• Delays in income tax refund processing
• Troubles accessing past income tax returns

Feedback from taxpayers, tax professionals, and representatives from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has prompted corrective actions by the service provider, Infosys.

Assessment Processing

The Centralized Processing Centre (CPC) in Bengaluru is responsible for processing valid ITRs. For the Assessment Year 2021-22, CPC has processed more than 5.17 crore ITRs from a total of 6.01 crore verified submissions.

Communication and Notices

The e-filing portal, found at www.incometax.gov.in, serves as the interface for taxpayers to view and respond to various notices from Departmental officers, including those related to assessments, penalties, or appeals. By March 13, 2022, over 29 lakh notices had been issued through the e-filing portal, with approximately 15.62 lakh responses received.

Accountability for Website Glitches

The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Integrated E-filing and CPC 2.0 project includes specific provisions to address failures in service delivery by the Managed Service Provider (MSP). Any shortcomings in meeting agreed standards and timelines lead to appropriate actions as outlined in the RFP and contractual agreements between the Income Tax Department and the MSP.

Conclusion

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance has addressed the questions regarding income tax collection, technical difficulties with the e-filing portal, and measures for accountability. Continuous improvements and corrective actions are being implemented to enhance the user experience for taxpayers.