By ADITYA RAJ DAS

CBDT has released draft Common Income Tax Return Form for public consultation. At present, taxpayers are required to furnish their Income-tax Returns in ITR-1 to ITR-7 depending upon the type of person and nature of income.

Finance Ministry said in a release that the proposed draft ITR takes a relook at the return filing system in tandem with international best practices. It proposes to introduce a common ITR by merging all the existing returns of income except ITR-7.

However, the current ITR-1 and ITR-4 will continue. This will give an option to such taxpayers to file the return either in the existing form (ITR-1 or ITR-4), or the proposed common ITR, at their convenience.

The draft common ITR has been uploaded on www.incometaxindia.gov.in for inputs from stakeholders and general public.