New Delhi, Jul 31 (Deccan Chronicle): The Income Tax department on Monday extended the tax returns filing deadline from July 31 to August 5. The new last date will give taxpayers enough time to prepare documents and file their tax returns.

The extension in deadline has reportedly been granted as people have faced problems in filing income tax returns on last day using income tax website. Besides, taxpayers have also complained that income tax website was not working as there was huge rush on to the site.

Earlier, CBDT had said last date for filing of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for the financial year 2016-17 will not be extended beyond today's deadline, a top official said. "The last date for filing of ITRs remains July 31. 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.

On reports of the e-filing website facing some glitches, the official said that no major glitches have been reported with the department's e-filing website-- http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/--barring a few times when the portal was "interrupted for maintenance".

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 July 31.

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 July 1.

The department has also asked taxpayers to declare cash deposits made in bank accounts aggregating to Rs. 2 lakh or more, post demonetisation between November 9-December 30 last year, in the ITRs. The ITRs to be filed by July 31 pertain to 2016-17 fiscal or assessment year 2017-18.