The Central Government on 24th June 2020 extended the deadline for filing income-tax returns (ITR) for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 by a month till July 31, 2020. This decision by the Central Government comes in the wake of coronavirus pandemic; it had earlier extended the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) for Fiscal Year 2019-20 to 30th November 2020. The Central Government in a press conference on 13th May 2020 had declared that the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 has been extended to 30th November 2020 from 31st July. "Due date for all income-tax return for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 will be extended from 31st July 2020 and 31st October 2020 to 30th November 2020 and tax audit from 30th September 2020 to 31st October 2020." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during a press address.

Also, thereto, the date of making payments without interest and penalty under Vivad se Vishwas scheme has been extended to New Year’s Eve (31st December 2020). This is the second extension of the scheme. Earlier the government in the press conference dated March 24, 2020, has announced the extension of Vivad se Vishwas scheme to June 30, 2020.
The scheme was announced within the Budget 2020 to permit one-time settlement of tax dispute between the tax department and the individuals. The settlement can be made without paying any penalty and interest on the tax dispute amount.

This was all a part of the grand Rs 20 lakh crore relief package by the Government. The Government also announced a reduced TDS rate which was brought down by 25% as a relief to taxpayers due to the extended time limit for filing of income tax. It comes as a matter of great joy to the citizen as many of the citizens have no stable source of income or have enough income to sustain themselves and/or their families during these testing and very difficult times. Many are believed to have lost their jobs during this period. The Central Government is trying its best to help the taxpayers by reducing and delaying taxes.