The finance ministry has made it mandatory for people who have an annual income of over Rs 10 lakh to file their tax returns for 2011-12 electronically.
This has been done with a view to encouraging people to go for e-filing of returns and making the entire process faster.
“E-filing has been made compulsory for the person who is an individual or a ‘Hindu undivided family’, if his or its total income, or the total income in respect of which he is or it is assessable under the act during the previous year, exceeds Rs. 10 lakh rupees for the assessment year 2012-13 onwards," the income-tax department has said.
E-filing for such individuals was optional till 2010-11. Digital signature will not be mandatory for these people.
So far, it was mandatory for professionals with an income of Rs 15 lakh to e-file their returns with digital signature.