“Tax Portal Glitches Frustrate Last-Minute ITR Filers, Infosys Faces Backlash”

As the deadline for filing income tax returns (ITR) for the 2024-25 fiscal year loomed on July 31, many taxpayers encountered technical glitches on the income tax portal. The issues left last-minute filers struggling to submit their returns, sparking frustration and criticism online. Many users took to social media, tagging Infosys, the software giant responsible for the portal’s development.

Chartered accountant Nikhita Kolte-Gore expressed her frustration on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the persistent loading issues and urging for improvements to ensure a smoother experience next year. Other users echoed her sentiments, questioning the efficiency of the portal given the significant ₹4,200 crore investment made by Infosys.

Ravi Agrawal, chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), acknowledged the high volume of submissions and assured the public that service providers, including Infosys, IBM, and Hitachi, were working to resolve the issues. Despite these assurances, many taxpayers remained dissatisfied with the portal’s performance, especially given the high stakes of filing ITRs on time.

The Income Tax Department and the CBDT had previously cautioned taxpayers against making false claims, under-reporting earnings, or exaggerating deductions, as these actions could delay refunds and incur penalties. As of July 26, over five crore ITRs had been filed, with the previous fiscal year seeing 8.61 crore submissions. The glitches served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by digital infrastructure in handling high traffic volumes during peak periods.