Industry body Assocham has urged the government to extend the last date for filing income tax returns to December 31 2004 as some formalities with regard to filing them online were yet to be completed.

"The due date for filing returns in respect of all taxpayers is November 1. But in the absence of registration of e-intermediary, most of the taxpayers are not in a position to avail the benefit of filing the returns electronically," the chamber said in a representation to Finance Secretary D C Gupta.

It pointed out that as per information from the income tax department, e-intermediary would be in a position to file returns electronically only in November.

"Despite the government's claims that IT returns can be filed through online tax system (OLTAS) and e-filing, the formalities regarding the registration of e-intermediary have not been completed," it said.

It said any extension would not affect the revenue collection as by-and-large all tax payments were made by way of advance tax or tax deducted at source.

"On the contrary, by filing the return, the taxpayers will claim refund of excess tax paid or deducted as advance tax or TDS as the case may be," it said.