A poll conducted across multiple WhatsApp groups of tax professionals has highlighted the mounting pressure on chartered accountants and tax practitioners ahead of the tax audit deadline, with more than 80% of respondents reporting that they have completed only 10% to 30% of their total tax audit assignments.
The findings have strengthened calls for an early extension of the tax audit deadline, as professionals contend that the time available for completing thousands of audit assignments has been substantially compressed due to the non-audit income tax return filing deadline falling on August 31.
Buy Now: JurisHour Ultimate Legal Research Combo – 4 Premium E-Magazines at an Unbeatable Price
According to professionals participating in the poll, the results reflect the actual workload position across tax offices and are not merely based on apprehension or perception. A significant majority remains at an early stage of completing tax audit assignments despite the profession working extended hours to meet statutory obligations.
Tax practitioners pointed out that the present situation should not be viewed as an unwillingness or failure on the part of chartered accountants to complete their work. They said professionals are already putting in long working hours but are facing practical limitations because the non-audit return-filing season occupied a substantial part of the period ordinarily available for tax audit work.
The close sequencing of the income tax return and tax audit deadlines has reportedly left practitioners with a narrow window to examine books of account, verify supporting records, reconcile financial and tax data, obtain explanations from clients and complete the necessary reporting requirements.
Unlike routine return filing, a tax audit requires detailed scrutiny of accounts and disclosures. Professionals must examine transactions, reconcile information appearing in financial records and tax statements, identify reporting requirements and ensure that particulars furnished in the audit report are accurate. The work also depends heavily on timely receipt of complete information from taxpayers.
Professionals have cautioned that expecting the entire community to comfortably complete a large volume of pending audits within the remaining period does not align with the ground-level data emerging from the poll.
They maintained that an extension would not amount to granting an avoidable concession. Instead, it would recognise the unusually compressed compliance calendar and provide sufficient time to complete audits with the diligence and accuracy expected under the law.
The professional community has also urged the authorities not to delay the decision until the last moment. According to them, a timely announcement would provide certainty to taxpayers and auditors, allow offices to plan their workload properly and prevent the disruption ordinarily caused by a late extension.
“Extension is not a luxury. It is a practical necessity this year,” the appeal stated, while requesting the government to provide the profession with a clear and workable timeline.
The poll is informal and does not constitute an official nationwide survey. Nevertheless, professionals say the overwhelming concentration of respondents in the 10%–30% completion bracket offers an important indication of the pressure being experienced across tax practices.
An early decision on the extension request, they added, would enable professionals to focus on the quality of audits rather than rushing through assignments under severe deadline pressure.
Read More: 57Th GST Council Meet Proposal | Genuine Buyers May Retain GST ITC Despite Supplier’s Tax Default
