Taxpayers to get Digital IDs for E-filing Returns 

In order to weed out the hassle of sending by post a hard copy of e-filed return,the incometax department has decided to bring in the facility of electronic signatures for taxpayers to endorse their bonafides. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT),the apex office to formulate policies for the income-tax department,has decided to implement the new mechanism by the end of the next financial year,in March 2015.Official sources privy to the development told PTI that the CBDT will get in touch with the Union ministries of law and communications and information technology to establish the legal position and technology requirements,respectively before it operationalises the new protocols for the e-returns called ITRV.It has to be seen what will be the procedure to obtain electronic or digital signature by the taxpayers. There should not be an additional cost or procedural burden for the taxpayer who opts to file his or her I-T return online, a senior official said.

Economic Times, New Delhi, 24-03-2014