CBDT extended time for processing income tax refunds for the AY 2017-18 and earlier years

Due to technical issues, several valid returns (upto assessment year 2017-18) were not processed within the time limit stipulated under section 143(1) of the Income tax Act, 1961. This led to denial of legitimated income tax refund of the taxpayers.

Therefore, To mitigate genuine hardship being faced by the taxpayers on this issue, the CBDT, by virtue of its powers under section 119 of the Act, relaxed the time-frame u/s 143(1) and directs that all validly filed returns upto AY 2017-18 with refund claims which could not be processed u/s 143(1) can be processed now with the prior approval of Principal CCIT / CCIT Concerned. The intimation to such processing can be sent to assessee concern by 30th September 2021.

For more details, please refer CBDT circular dated 5th July 2021.