New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI): The government has extended the deadline for e-filing of income returns and audit reports for taxpayers who are assessed under section 44AB of the Income Tax Act after courts in some jurisdictions granted pleas for an extension.

The earlier deadline was September 30. The new one is October 31. Section 44AB relates to taxpayers who are required to get their accounts audited by a chartered accountant.

”In order to avoid discrimination between taxpayers residing in different jurisdictions and to be fair to all and also in view of paucity of time to approach Supreme Court by way of Special Leave Petition, government has decided that across the country all returns of income and audit reports under section 44AB which were due for e-filing by September 30, 2015, may now be filed by October 31, 2015,” the Central Board of Direct Taxes said in a order issued on Thursday.

The CBDT, the policy-making body of the income tax department, said the issue of extension of last date for e-filing returns of income and audit reports under this category by the earlier stated deadline (September 30) has been the subject matter of litigation in various High Courts across the country.

”While some High Courts have ruled in favour of the extension of due date, some others have ruled otherwise,” the CBDT said in a statement.

A senior official said the decision to extend the deadline was taken as in a specific case, the Punjab & Haryana High Court, had ruled against the tax department in this matter on September 28 and had asked the CBDT extend the deadline to October 31, 2015.